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We recap our 10 Year Celebration event!

The Good Cycles 10 year party was a joyous celebration of social enterprise, history, and our fantastic employees.

Under the sheds of the Queen Victoria Market, our November 16 celebration coincided with World Social Enterprise Day, as we held our own festival of Social Entrepreneurship.

Purpose Precinct and Green Collect opened their doors for trade selling their “for purpose” and upcycled products. All our tasty food was provided by our amazing social enterprise buddies — STREAT, Free To Feed, All Things Equal, and Crepes For Change. And we had all of Good Cycles capabilities on display, showcasing a variety of bikes and machinery across our 4 Divisions; Good Bikes, Good Labour, Good Deliveries and Good Spaces.

We had it all—delicious mocktails and non-alcoholic drinks from Liquid Infusion, a fun Photobooth for our Good People Mosaic, and tunes from Kassandra & Him that had us grooving all night.

It was touching to see a number of guests and staff sporting HI-Viz safety gear in solidarity with our many employees who wear it everyday, in particular the late-night and early-morning crews who couldn’t make it that night.

The evening was enriched by video messages from co-founders Luke Wright and Loretta Curtain plus speeches from Chair Darrell Wade, Co-Chair Lucinda Makrakis, and Good Cycles CEO Jaison Hoernel, each sharing the emotional resonance of the night and eloquently narrating our ten-year journey.

We mixed the old with the new, with a strong and diverse contingency of young people, taking to the stage. A special acknowledgment goes to Stef, Abby, Oliver, Lucy, and Vaughn who each reflected on how Good Cycles has shaped them as individuals, emphasising the importance of belonging to an organisation that creates a safe and inclusive workplace.

"Wearing Hi-Viz tonight symbolises the foundational building blocks Good Cycles has laid down, to create a safe workplace in which young people can succeed and thrive"
Jaison Hoernel
Good Cycles CEO

Our journey was made possible through all our partners over the years, and the generous support of event sponsors Lendlease, Paul Ramsay Foundation, and Queen Victoria Market. Plus a heartfelt shout-out to the dedicated staff from Purpose Precinct and Green Collect who worked tirelessly during the 10 Year Celebration to host the festival of social enterprise.

Special thanks are extended to event organisers Adam, Hannah, Kirra, Joe, Cory, and Khan. Gratitude is also owed to our Gracie St neighbours, advertising firm GDJ, Lara, Cathy, Sally, Hanna and Cormac from Cormac Creative Studios for their countless support and creative hours in crafting the night.

Noteworthy mention goes to Khalid, a former supported employee who left us to create Kushitic Productions, capturing the night’s action and presenting us with all the images featured here, plus the captivating video above celebrating our milestone.

Last but not least, sincere thanks to our own John Bech for his remarkable voice-over skills and to all our fantastic team members who contributed to the creation of the ‘Ride along’ 10 Years of Change video. The event was a beautiful celebration of all the Good People who help us deliver our Good Cycles of Change.

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Ministerial Launch of The Purpose Precinct

We were honoured to have Minister for Employment Vicki Ward officially launch the expansion of The Purpose Precinct, almost a year after its String Bean alley launch.

Australia’s first dedicated social enterprise precinct has been officially opened at the iconic Queen Victoria Market (QVM) – giving Victorians a fresh opportunity to shop local ahead of the festive season. Minister for Employment Vicki Ward has today opened the expansion of Purpose Precinct – a new shopping destination featuring 100 local social enterprises selling homewares, clothing, food and gifts.

Co-developed by leading Victorian social enterprises Good Cycles and STREAT and supported by the Social Enterprise Network of Victoria – the precinct recently moved from its temporary home in Stringbean Alley to multiple spaces within the F Shed Laneway, at QVM.

The socially-conscious shopping destination will bring more visitors to the market and create 75 local jobs – including for Victorians that have faced challenges finding a job.

As the festive season approaches Purpose Precinct will give shoppers an option to buy gifts from socially-conscious and purpose-led businesses like Clothing The Gaps, Homie, Mildura Chocolate Company, Green Collect, Free to Feed and more.

Social enterprises are defined as businesses that channel at least 50% of their profits into achieving their mission – whether that’s tackling social problems, improving communities, providing people with access to employment and training, or helping the environment.

 

Good Cycles is responsible for employing Purpose Precinct’s retail staff with a focus on helping young people break through barriers to employment via its Youth Employment Program. As our CEO Jaison Hoenel describes it as, “a registered charity all our profits are directed towards impact, but as a social enterprise and through the Purpose Precinct we can demonstrate how to create meaningful jobs and a safe space for their employees.”

And staff members like Vaughn would agree, he loves how social enterprises are “focused on the human side of business.” Vaughn simply loves having conversations with shoppers and sharing the stories that shape the range of impact driven products on sale.

“Using a work-first approach, Good Cycles creates value out of safety for its young employees"
Jaison
Good Cycles CEO

The Purpose Precinct has a strong focus on impact and sustainability with many products made from recycled or repurposed goods and materials. The Precinct is funded through the Labor Government’s nation-leading Social Enterprise Strategy 2021-25 and the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund.

There are currently more than 3,500 social enterprises trading across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, which employ an estimated 60,000 people and contribute $5.2 billion annually to the Victorian economy.

Take part in the conversation and learn about the future of retail. 

Visit the Purpose Precinct at F Shed in Queen Victoria Market.