www.workventures.com.au
2023
ANNUAL REPORT
WorkVentures respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
the lands and waters on which we live and work. We pay our respects
to Elders past and present.
Acknowledgment of Country
We recognise the enduring connection of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Peoples to this land, which spans thousands of
generations, and honour their ongoing cultural and spiritual
practices.
WorkVentures is committed to listening, learning and
working together in the spirit of reconciliation,
acknowledging the injustices of the past, and
striving for a future of mutual respect and
understanding.
MESSAGE FROM
LEADERSHIP
28
33
35
12
36
21
38
COMPANY HISTORY
2023 OVERVIEW
YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT
SOLUTIONS
IT SOLUTIONS
LOGISTICS
SOLUTIONS
TECHNICAL
SOLUTIONS
OUR THREE-YEAR
STRATEGIC PLAN
FINANCIAL
SUMMARY
COMMITMENT TO
RECONCILIATION
CYBER SECURITY
SOLUTIONS
23
39
OUR TEAM
Table of Contents
CEO
Family, now supporting over 4,000
school students participating in the
Learning for Life Program, and
introduced new digital coaching
modules for families to address the
evolving nature of digital inclusion.
We also commenced a project
with The Benevolent Society to
support young people with
disabilities and their families, which
will expand in 2024.
To help us understand how to
improve our work in this space, we
completed a major study with
KPMG, which explored the impact
of digital exclusion on low-income
students.
Additionally, we broadened our
cyber security efforts. With 1 in 8
Australian NFPs experiencing a
cyber breach and only 13% having
plans to improve security
protection, WorkVentures
developed a series of sector-
specific, affordable cyber solutions.
In delivering these services to a
range of different NFP sub-sectors,
we enhanced the data security of
thousands of people supported by
or funding the sector.
Caroline McDaid
MESSAGE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP
Welcome To Our Company
2023 was an important year in the
evolution of WorkVentures. We
launched several new social
impact initiatives and deepened
the impact of our existing work.
After a series of financially
challenging years, we have
strengthened our position, which is
critical as an independent social
enterprise.
In 2023, WorkVentures continued to
focus on bridging the digital divide.
We completed a high-profile
program in partnership with
WACOSS in Western Australia as
part of the ‘WA Digital Inclusion
Project,’ supporting 500 community
housing residents. We expanded
our collaboration with The Smith
We know that digital
inclusion is complex and
needs a nuanced approach.
We consolidated our existing
traineeship programs with our new
Cyber Career Pathway programs,
funded by 2 years of Federal
Department of Industries grants.
This provided 100 people from
diverse backgrounds with the
opportunity to experience our
Cyber Explorer course – an
interactive introduction to a career
in cyber security and a stepping
stone for their future.
The creation of our 2024-26
strategy allowed the Board, our
leadership team and the entire
staff to pause and reflect on our
history, all that we have achieved
and how we adapt our purpose
and vision in the changing context
in which we find ourselves.
Our strategy will see us enhance
our impact, advocacy and
leveraging the rich data from
programs we implement in digital
inclusion and employment
solutions. As a social enterprise, we
will be forward-thinking, customer-
centric, and focused on ways to
generate sustainable funding to
support our impact. Additionally,
we will focus substantial energy
and resources on improving our
enablers.
Felix Wong
Board Chair
In summary, we are excited about
the impact that WorkVentures can
have as an organisation in the
years ahead. We are grateful to
our staff for their unwavering
dedication and commitment.
As outlined in our purpose
statement, we cannot do this alone.
We’d like to thank and
acknowledge the support of our
many partners, customers and
suppliers across the corporate,
government and for-purpose
sectors. Together, we have every
confidence that we can work
towards an equitable Australia
where everyone can thrive.
Our systems, processes and people are the backbone
of all that we do, and to scale our impact, we need this
to be strong, flexible and adaptable.
02
Company Introduction
WHAT MAKES WORKVENTURES DIFFERENT?
The unique structure of our organisation means that we have the capacity
to provide dedicated and specialised support to those we support. Each of
our four business units focuses on their individual missions while
intrinsically linking their work to support other teams.
WorkVentures is a not-for-profit and social enterprise
focused on transforming Australia through technology, skills
and meaningful career pathways.
We work with businesses, government bodies and the for-purpose sector
to bridge the digital divide, provide equitable career pathway
opportunities and promote a circular economy.
An equitable Australia where everyone can thrive.
Transforming Australia through technology, skills, and
meaningful career pathways.
We work with business, government and the for-purpose
sector to:
Bridge the
digital divide
Promote a
circular economy
Vision
Purpose
04
Provide equitable
career opportunities
A LONG HISTORY OF MAKING CHANGE
Company Introduction
Founded as Peninsula Community
Services in 1979, WorkVentures has
undergone many developments;
however, our core objectives and
dedication to the communities and
individuals we support have
remained the same.
Company History
1979
1989
1990-1991
Our organisation started as a
local initiative to offer a range of
community development
opportunities, including children
and youth services.
We began offering computer
training facilities, and our focus
moved towards employment
services. In the following years,
we were invited by the Federal
Government to establish the
first Information Technology
Centre, partnering with
Microsoft. Two years later, we
opened ITeC – an electronic
repair business.
We were invited to take over the
operation of the Sydney
Business Enterprise Centre. We
created a new division focused
on small business advice,
training and practical support
and adopted the name
WorkVentures to unify our
initiatives.
1997
2000-2002
We established WorkVentures
Group Training to offer
traineeships in partnership
with host employers.
In 2000, we expanded to
Melbourne with our ITeC
Repair Centre and in 2002, our
ongoing partnership with
Westpac began.
2005
WorkVentures won the Prime
Minister’s Award for Excellence
in Community Business
Partnership in the Longevity
category for our 19-year
partnership with Microsoft.
2008
We expanded our reach to remote
communities, supplying computers
and technical support to the Hope
Vale Indigenous Technology and
Knowledge Centre on the Cape York
Peninsula in Far North Queensland
with our Connect IT division.
2009
Connect IT delivered its 20,000th
low-cost PC to low-income
households.
2015
We expanded our traineeship
solutions in 2015 by launching a
KickStart Academy to provide IT
skills and training to disadvantaged
youth and migrant communities.
2021
WorkVentures won the 2021
Award for Outstanding
Community Organisation for the
Sydney Metro Business Awards.
This award recognises an
organisation that works to
improve the social, cultural, or
environmental wellbeing of the
community.
2022
We launched our cyber security
solutions to address the gaps in
cyber security within the not-for-
profit sector.
06
2019
WorkVentures celebrated our
40-year anniversary in 2019,
with all lines of business now in
two locations based in Sydney
and Melbourne.
OUR 2023 IN REVIEW
2023 Social Impact
In 2023, WorkVentures experienced
significant growth and impact.
We achieved milestones such as
supporting a record number of young
individuals through our traineeship
program, bolstering our cyber security
solutions, and fostering partnerships with
various organisations to implement digital
inclusion initiatives, aiding digitally
marginalised individuals nationwide.
WorkVentures in 2023
Deepening Our Digital
Inclusion Programs
In 2023, WorkVentures partnered with a
record number of not-for-profit and
corporate partners to deliver digital
inclusion programs across the country.
These programs include working with
The Smith Family, WACOSS, and
The Benevolent Society.
Cyber Security
KickStart Program
We launched our KickStart program in
2023 to encourage people from all
walks of life to expand their horizons
and engage in an exciting career in
cyber security. Throughout the month-
long program, 50 participants delved
into the foundational aspects of
cybersecurity, equipping themselves
with the knowledge and skills essential
for thriving in the industry.
In late 2023, WorkVentures and Uniting
were proud to launch our newest
annual diversity traineeship program.
We welcomed 10 new trainees across
Uniting offices, who quickly became
part of our combined family while
gaining real-world, paid work
experience related to their studies in
Community Services and Business.
Uniting Community
Service Program