New partnership with WISE Employment to create lasting social impact
The not-for-profit employment service provider is giving $1.1 million to support the social purpose sector through education and research.
WISE Employment has partnered with Melbourne Business School via a $1.1 million sponsorship to support not-for-profit and social purpose organisations through education opportunities and research initiatives.
The partnership will see WISE become a partner of the School’s Centre for Social Purpose Organisations, underscoring their commitment to empowering individuals and communities through earning, learning and living well.
WISE will fund over 90 WISE Employment Community Scholarships in the Emerging Social Purpose Leaders program at MBS - building next generation leaders in not-for-profit and other social purpose organisations.
Centre Director Libby Ward-Christie said the Emerging Social Purpose Leaders program addresses the unique business needs and complex systems that social purpose organisations operate in.
“By educating emerging leaders in social purpose organisations to leverage best practice management principles to achieve sustainable social impact, we can help secure the long-term financial viability of these organisations,” she said.
“This in turn will support development of strategic leadership capability at all levels.”
WISE Employment Group CEO Matthew Lambelle said the partnership integrates WISE Employment's mission of enabling both their team members and customers to thrive.
“WISE and MBS share a vision of advancing the social purpose sector to deliver a more equitable and sustainable world,” he said.
“Through this partnership, WISE is actively contributing to a future where employment, education, and well-being are accessible to all.”
Collaboration between academia and industry is instrumental in delivering meaningful social impact. The funding will also enable the Centre to undertake key research, beginning with a dedicated case study on WISE Employment's growth.
“This partnership brings together the business education and research acumen of the School, with WISE Employment’s not-for-profit experience in driving significant financial growth and scaling social impact," Libby-Ward Christie said.
“Understanding the successes and challenges faced by WISE will help other social purpose organisations grow their impact in a financially sustainable way with findings from the research used to inform future educational initiatives for the sector.”
Part of the scholarship funds will also be used to put WISE team members through the Emerging Social Purpose Leaders Program.
“We have undergone significant growth in the last few years which has allowed us to set the standard for inclusion and innovation in the sector. However, it has also shown us first-hand the unique challenges our sector faces,” Lambelle said.
“By participating in MBS’s leadership programs, our people gain cutting-edge skills to drive change and inclusion that will ultimately help our communities thrive.”
Applications for the 2025 Emerging Social Purpose Leaders program are now open, with 18 WISE Employment Community Scholarships available this year for emerging leaders working in not-for-profit and other social purpose organisations.
To apply or find out more about the selection criteria for the scholarships, visit the Emerging Social Purpose Leaders program page.
To find out more about the work our Centre for Social Purpose Organisations is doing, visit the Centre page.
