Co-operative Enterprises

Great Meetup last night organised by Collaboratory Melbourne. The panel comprising representatives from Earthworker Co-operative, Goulburn Valley Food Co-op, Hepburn Wind and Bank MECU.

It’s really got me thinking about the sustainability and resilience of co-operatives, and the benefit to the local community.

KEY TAKEOUTS

A co-operative doesn’t just engage with the community, they are the community.

While manufacturing in Australia may not be viable when using a capitalist business model, it can be if using a co-operative business model.

All the panel members agreed that co-operatives are about empowering the community, engaging stakeholders in decision making and feeding dividends back into the community.

And…that a co-operative relies on good governance and organisational structures to ensure the co-op stays true to its purpose and its community.