Social Enterprises in Sydney

by Dan Cunningham and Holly Bodeker-Smith

Updated 11 months ago

The restaurants, cafes and stores in this guide are all social enterprise businesses. Some operate on a pay-what-you-want model, while others donate their profits to different causes. Many of these establishments give people from disadvantaged backgrounds the skills and opportunity to enter the workforce.

But aside from the good they do around Sydney, these businesses all stand on their own as slickly-run venues with tasty menus and high-quality products. They’re worthy of your attention.

Four Brave Women
Restaurant
This restaurant takes in recently arrived refugees, and gives them the skills and experience to kickstart their hospitality careers. Each intake features chefs from a variety of cultural backgrounds, so expect a delicious new menu every eight weeks or so.
OzHarvest Market
Shop
OzHarvest Market is a pay-what-you-can-afford supermarket, which salvages produce and wares from over 2500 donors. Its mission is to give a second chance to mislabeled, blemished and misshapen foods which would ordinarily be thrown out – and help nourish its local community, too.
Two Good Co Cafe
Cafe
Set within a historic former church, this social impact cafe empowers at-risk women through hospitality training and a sense of community. It also collaborates with top Australian chefs to curate monthly specials, events and more.
Kabul Social
Restaurant
Dumplings, made-to-order bread and Afghan “Burgers” are on the menu at this refugee-led diner in the CBD. Not only does it train and employ women who have recently arrived from Afghanistan, but for every meal bought, it donates two more meals to Afghan communities in need.