Co-Op Workshops For A Fairer More Sustainable Economy

Altin, from Borderlands Cooperative, ran a preliminary ‘co-op conversation’ at the Augustine Centre in Melbourne, late last year. One outcome was a desire to start running short, very low-cost workshops to introduce people in the greater Melbourne area to co-ops and how they can be part of building a fairer, more sustainable economy.

The First Co-Op Workshop On March 20

The first of these workshops – Changing Work / Making Change: Cooperatives and the Solidarity Economy – will be on March 20, 7.00 – 9.00pm at Borderlands – the independent network for holistic community activism, sustainability and action research.

Co-operatives National Law Launched

After several years of industry consultation the Co-operatives National Law (CNL) has been launched in NSW and in Victoria. CEO of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM), Melina Morrison, says about Australia’s most under-recognised sector:

“Co-operatives are thriving…

Co-operatives and mutuals are the ‘quiet achievers’ in the Australian economy. There are over 1700 registered co-operatives in Australia. The ten largest agricultural co-operatives contribute around $7b to the wellbeing of rural and regional communities in Australia and consumer demand is encouraging the growth of new co-operatives in areas such as organic food, renewable energy and aged and healthcare…

Eight in ten Australians are members of a co-operative or mutually owned business including household brands like NRMA Motoring and Services, HCF, Australian Unity and Australia’s largest member-owned retailer, The Co-op. The level of awareness of co-ops and mutuals and their importance to the economy is much lower.”

Workshop Details

The event details are published here and Borderlands’ address is 2 Minona Court, Hawthorn, Melbourne.

The future?