Australian Co-operative Links
is the first Australian website to feature and promote the nation's diverse
range of co-operatives.
Co-operative Development Services Ltd
launched
Australian Co-operative Links
in 2002 to provide interested persons with an insight into the broad range of
activities undertaken
by Australian co-operatives
and the extent of the world-wide
co-operative movement.
Co-operatives have existed in some form in Australia for over 160 years. Since
the first
known co-operative was formed in Queensland in 1859, co-operatives have spread
across Australia following the nation's economic and social
development.
Today, there are around 1,500 co-operatives operating in Australia covering
a diverse range of activities,
from
supporting small businesses
in the
agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, professional services, transport and
wholesale trade industries, to
providing consumer services
in the accommodation and food services, arts and recreation, education and
training, financial
services, health care and social assistance, housing, media and retail trade
industries.
In recent years,
worker owned
co-operatives have been formed in manufacturing industries.
Australian Co-operative Links
reflects this diversity by providing links to co-operatives by industry using
the
Australian and New Zealand Standards Industrial Classification,
by state of
registration
and A to Z.
Australian Co-operative Links
is periodically
updated
as
new websites
are identified.
A new addition to
Australian Co-operative Links
are
DotCoop co-operatives.
These are Australian co-ops that have adopted the international
DotCoop internet domain
for their websites.
Please
contact us
if any of the links are not functioning or you wish to add your co-operative's
website link to
Australian Co-operative Links.