In the recent Finding Australia’s Social Enterprise Sector (FASES) 2016 report, social entrepreneurs face major external constraints in growing both their businesses and impacts. Regardless of the challenges that social entrepreneurs currently face, here are 4 reasons why it is an exciting time to be a social entrepreneur in Australia.

For many social entrepreneurs, establishing a successful business with a social or environmental purpose is the ultimate dream. But it is a grind with numerous trials and tribulations. Luckily, social entrepreneurs do not have to struggle in isolation. Here’s why all social entrepreneurs need a mentor and how to find one the right one.

The Western Union Foundation is dedicated to creating a better world, where the ability to realise dreams through economic opportunity is not just a privilege for the few but a right for all. Since its inception, the Western Union Foundation has paid more than $106 million in grants and other giving. We sat down with the new face of the Western Union Foundation Elizabeth Roscoe to talk philanthropy, social impact and leadership.

Over the past few years, hackathons have taken Australia by storm. Social good hackathons are now springing up, breathing new life into what has traditionally been a commercial concept. Such hackathons present a unique opportunity to expedite potential solutions to a diverse range of social issues – from empowering persons with disabilities to addressing women’s rights and the refugee crisis.

Did you know that every 6 seconds, a social good blog is launched somewhere in the world? We’ve done all the hard searching for you to bring you a definitive guide to the best-ever social entrepreneurship blogs. Sign up to a couple or all to get the most varied and complete picture of what’s happening in social entrepreneurship in Australia and around the world!

Australia has traditionally been a highly successful and prosperous nation. However, we have ridden on our luck for too long, especially in relying on our natural resources to get us through. In this uncertain, disrupted and highly complex environment being lucky isn’t enough. To compete globally we must not only nurture our entrepreneurs, we must include and empower the many diverse voices of our citizens, migrants and the refugees who are seeking a haven here.

Based on the belief that digital technologies are one of the main drivers for the United Nations agenda towards the Sustainable Development Goals, The World Summit Award Social Innovation Congress brought together young social entrepreneurs and innovators, international thought-leaders, ICT experts and regional stakeholders to discuss and recognise digital innovation in creating sustainable social change and impact world-wide.

Great social entrepreneurs are always learning, growing, and focusing on creating an environment in which their enterprise, teams, customers and beneficiaries can flourish. However the demanding world of social entrepreneurship makes it difficult to find the time to stay ahead of the learning game. Stop trying to read everything out there. There’s too much. And you’re too busy. Instead, here are the articles that you need to read.

Adapted from the excellent book The Art of Social Enterprise: Business as if People Mattered by Carl Frankel & Allen Bromberger, the follow 10 commandments are indisputable principles about how to beat the odds and excel at social enterprise. They aren’t general guidelines to hazily consider embracing. In the words of Frankel and Bromberger, “they are commandments you ignore at your peril.”