Certification

Social Traders certification is established, trusted and world-leading.

It’s for all the businesses putting people and planet first. It’s how we protect the sector against the growing risk of social washing.

In 2017, we developed Australia's social enterprise certification to de-risk social enterprise procurement. Since then, it has expanded to clearly identify and elevate the whole social enterprise sector.

Certification is for all social enterprise types, legal structures and stages of development.

Our certification is world-leading, tailored to the Australian market, and endorsed by the Social Enterprise World Forum. It's one of only six ‘double badge’ partners in the world. Only Social Traders offers the double badge of certification and verification – the highest standard in the Australian market.

We've been building a thriving social enterprise sector since 2008. The Social Traders certification is supported by government, leading philanthropists, Australia’s largest businesses and used by hundreds of certified social enterprises.

Why certify

• Join a national community of certified social enterprises
  Connect with like-minded businesses and potential partners through our events and training
• Strengthen your position
  Proudly display your certified logo and be recognised as a genuine social enterprise that puts people and planet first
• Get listed on the national directory
  Get visibility on Australia’s national directory of social enterprises, the Social Enterprise Finder
• Access volunteering platforms
  
• As certified social enterprises with Social Traders, you'll be able to use Communiteer and SEEK Volunteer platforms for free to attract volunteers to help grow your business for good further
• Secure grant funding
  Improve your chances of winning grants by showing you’re a genuine social enterprise with our grant partners (Local, State and Federal Government, and leading philanthropists)
• Expand your business
  Connect with Australia’s largest network of businesses and governments working with Social Traders to buy from social enterprise. Access new market opportunities through social procurement
• Access exclusive events and content
  Get free tickets to the leading sector events run by Social Traders and our partners - attend our training sessions, collaborate with other social enterprises, connect with buyers, and stay on top of sector trends

Social Traders certification is world-leading and tailored for the Australian market with the highest standards. It clearly identifies and protects the sector against social washing. We’ve been certifying social enterprise since 2017 and it's trusted by all levels of government, leading philanthropists and ASX listed businesses. There's 700+ certified social enterprises and certification is free – making it truly accessible to purpose-led businesses.

• Join a national community: Connect with like-minded businesses and potential partners through our events and training
• Strengthen your position: Be recognised as a genuine social enterprise and proudly display your certification logo
• Get listed: Be on Social Traders Social Enterprise Finder, Australia’s largest directory of certified social enterprises and be on our member portal visible to business and government members
• Secure grant funding: Improve your chances of winning grants across local, state and Federal Government and leading philanthropists
• Access events and content: Get free tickets to events run by Social Traders and our partners to connect, learn and collaborate. Utilise available resources to stay on top of sector trends and insights.
• Access volunteering platforms: Use Communiteer and SEEK Volunteer platforms for free to attract volunteers to help support your social enterprise

Certification complaints and review process

Social Traders maintains an audit and review process and will investigate issues or complaints raised against a certified social enterprise. The scope of any review that is conducted will be based on issues aligned with our certification framework.

Full details can be found in our Certification Complaints and Review Process document.