Student Innovation Blossoms Through Social Enterprise Partnership
UNSW CSI students team up with Community Flower Studio to drive digital growth and empower at-risk youth.
Published on the 24 June 2025
A partnership between postgraduate students from UNSW Centre for Social Impact and Community Flower Studio is showing how classroom learning can evolve into tangible impact through student-led innovation.
Collective Action for Social Impact
Community Flower Studio (CFS), a Sydney-based social enterprise, empowers at-risk youth through creative floral workshops, mentoring, and entrepreneurship. UNSW CSI students partnered with CFS during their 'Social Entrepreneurship Practicum' course to strengthen the studio’s outreach and social mission.
A highlight of the collaboration was the ‘Secret Garden Project’. Conceived by students, the idea was refined with input from CFS’s Youth Action Group and successfully secured funding from the Help Street Foundation.
‘I was impressed by the level of effort your students invested in developing surveys to collect meaningful data from our target age group. The proposed Instagram marketing strategies were particularly relevant to CFS,’ said Dr Bibiana Chan, Founder and President of CFS.
Digital Strategies for Social Enterprise
Recognising the power of digital platforms, the students developed a tailored social media strategy for CFS, with a focus on Instagram campaigns designed to resonate with youth audiences. Their approach led to a collaboration with the Pillar Initiative, a program leveraging social media for community impact.
Equipped with a targeted ad budget and a clear goal to surpass 500 Instagram followers, CFS is now better positioned to expand its reach and amplify its mission.
“The students’ systematic approach provided fresh structure and clarity,” said Dr. Chan.
Experience in Social Enterprise
For students, the practicum course goes beyond academic credit. It offers the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world social challenges.
“This collaboration exemplifies the educational experiences we aim to provide,” said Danielle Logue, Director of UNSW Centre for Social Impact. “Students don’t just learn about social innovation and impact, they work with partners to actively create it.”
Student Yvonne Gao shared her perspective on the hands-on learning experience.
“Working on the project for CFS was a great chance to turn what we learned in class into something real. We focused on understanding the barriers young people face, especially those from diverse backgrounds and designed strategies that work for them. The project was both a valuable learning experience and a rewarding collaboration,” said Yvonne.
Dr. Linh Nguyen, who leads the practicum course, emphasised the benefits of student contributions.
“This partnership clearly demonstrates how students can co-create practical, purpose-driven solutions with community partners while developing as socially conscious changemakers through their educational journey,’ said Dr Nguyen.
Study with Us
Dr. Bibiana Chan standing beside floral arrangements created through Community Flower Studio at UNSW Centre for Social Impact.
Dr. Bibiana Chan delivers a guest lecture on social enterprise and youth empowerment to UNSW social impact students.