Enterprising Natalie

I’m Natalie, a quite recent addition to the Marketing Team in Social Enterprises at the Brotherhood of St Laurence (I've been here for 6 months). I am thrilled to share my experiences in this position with you. I am absolutely loving my time here – for once I am not the evil marketing person taking money from good people and feeding it to the corporates (not that this is how I ever see the marketing profession, but there is no point lying to myself….the fact is, some people do!)

It couldn’t be better working for an organisation where the profits made are reinvested into community programs and services. That’s not to say we are perfect - we have a long way to go, but the passion is in the race to get to our goal – alleviating poverty. I couldn’t begin to tell you what happens on the average day here - what doesn’t happen here every day is probably a better question. Between the 8 social enterprises (Hunter Gatherer, Brotherhood Books, Second Edition, FloodSax, Phoenix, Brotherhood Green, Modstyle and the 27 Community Stores) we help market on a daily basis there is always something exciting happening. Whether it's the  recent La Nina weather causing water damage and sending FloodSax into a frenzy or a new store opening, our marketing brains are always ticking over.

Not only does the social enterprises team run these businesses, it also hires trainees who are people with complex personal issues, ranging from troubles at home to newly arrived refugees. The traineeships aim to improve their job prospects.

In my short time here I have met a flurry of trainees, in particular for Phoenix and Brotherhood Green. The stories of their lives before coming to Australia and to work with us are very touching. It is heartwarming to know what they have overcome and that they have become the people they are. If you haven’t already you must check out the recent story on Patient, a Phoenix trainee – now employee. I promise I am not just sending you to this link because I had some input in the revamp of the site … !

But what I will tell you is that every day when I wake at 6, YES 6am and travel from Geelong, I do so with a smile on my face and that is because when I leave each day, I leave feeling like what I do helps to make a difference and I can walk tall with my chest puffed out. I know how lucky I am to have a job like this - they're just not that easy to find in today’s world!