Nic Marchesi OAM & Lucas Patchett OAM
Social Entrepreneurs
Joint Founders: Orange Sky Laundry
2016 Young Australians of the
Year
| What is a Social
Entrepreneur? "a person who establishes an enterprise with the aim of solving social problems or effecting social change." (Source: Investopedia) |
The
Orange Sky Laundry story
“In your love, my salvation lies” and “I had a dream I stood beneath
an orange sky, with my brother standing by,” are the lyrics Nic
Marchesi and Lucas Patchett base their core values of their social welfare
service, Orange Sky Laundry on.
‘Orange Sky’ by Alexi Murdoch was the inspiration behind the company’s name. According to Lucas the song is about helping your brothers and sisters out which is exactly what the friends from Brisbane are doing in Brisbane and Melbourne with their mobile laundry service for the homeless.
Lucas and Nic met in high school in the 8th grade [St Joseph's Gregory Terrace, Brisbane]. It was through their connection in high school and their involvement with the homeless community through a high school food van they first became interested in the social welfare of the homeless community.
The idea of a mobile laundry service was lingering through the later years of high school but it wasn’t until Lucas returned from travelling overseas when he and Nic sat down and decided there was no better time to start up the self-funded project. At first, Nic and Lucas didn’t know if their idea would work but less than a year on they are overwhelmed at the support they have received and the amount of communities that have contacted them, crying out for their services. (Source: Federation Story)
 |
Lucas Patchett is studying a
double degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) and Bachelor of Commerce 2011 - 2016 from the University of Queensland. Nic Marchesi is a Director at FastForward Productions. |
|
Our Vision
Update 2025
Orange Sky continues its mission to provide free laundry, shower,
and connection services to people experiencing homelessness and
hardship. In 2025, they are focused on expanding their reach,
particularly in remote First Nations communities and supporting
40,000 individuals across Australia and New Zealand. |
YouTube Video:
Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett - 2016 Young Australian of the Year
https://youtu.be/ORzX9-dtWmU
YouTube Video:
Nic Marchesi & Lucas Patchett acceptance speech 2016 Young Australian of the
Year
https://youtu.be/d_ra7eaKUzs
YouTube Video:
Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett: small businesses doesn't always go to plan
https://youtu.be/dL9dQLzIk_U
Links:
Orange Sky
Website |
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25 January 2016
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Snow Foundation - Interviews Nic & Luc 4 September 2023  |
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Changing Australia - 12min 8 April 2025  |
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Australian
Social Entrepreneurs and You!
Primary
Middle
Secondary
Australian
Curriculum General Capability:
Critical and creative thinking
Australian
Curriculum General Capability:
Personal and social capability
Australian
Curriculum General Capability: Ethical Understanding
Australian
Curriculum General Capability:
Numeracy
1. There are many young Australians who are social entrepreneurs. They have developed businesses where they saw a social need and inspired others to support them to make a change in the lives of others.
Go to the FYA website and especially the section on programs for young changemakers and read or listen to some of their stories.
 |
2. Go to the School for Social Entrepreneurs and read the student stories.
 |
3. Select one story that has
impressed you. 4. Write up a Self Reflection answering the following questions: a. Why did this person impress you? b. Is there anything in this story that you could do within your community? c. What would you do to adapt the idea to suit your community? 5. As a responsible Social Entrepreneur, you need to assess the cost of your idea or gather the cost from the social entrepreneurs that you have researched. What was their start up cost? Ongoing cost? For Orange Sky Laundry - 2025 "You can help now by donating laundry cycles (1 cycle per person). $6 purchases 1 cycle $60 purchases 10, $120 purchases a day and $600 a week." |
Work out the cost of operating:
1 hour = 1 cycle = 3 people's clothes
If the van operates for 14 hours a day - how many people's clothes will get washed? How could this be extended?
How many people would get their clothes washed in a week?
6.
Nic and Lucas were inspired at school by their service with the food van to
help homeless people. They then thought of the idea of a mobile laundry to
help the homeless have clean clothes.
Call to Action:
A quote often attributed to St Mary MacKillop is, ‘Never
see a need without doing something about it’.
What needs are there in your local community that you could do something
about? (
You are to research the volunteer organisations within your
community and then volunteer your time for one of the organisations
for ... one month, six months, one year.
Do you have any ideas to start your own social enterprise? Share
with friends - this is how Nic and Lucas got started!
What sort of money would you need to start your social enterprise? What about the ongoing cost?
Analysing
Social Entrepreneurship
Secondary
Australian
Curriculum General Capability: Ethical Understanding
1. Read the following article from The Conversation 6 December 2016 about the different ways that social enterpreneurship can be developed - and how we can contribute, not just at Christmas.
2. Analyse the article by answering the following questions:
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What are the five global trends that are creating change for good and enable you to take action?
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Which system/type appeals to you? Why?
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What examples are listed?
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Where would Orange Sky Laundry fit? Why? Why Not?
3. Lucas and Nic developed a social conscience at school. They saw a need
and were determined to contribute to "fixing" this need. They found that
their enterprise had bigger ramifications than washing clothing. The
conversation that was started between the homeless friends and themselves
was more important. It allowed their homeless friends to talk to the
volunteers and this had a huge social impact.
Look about you. Is there a particular need within your school that you could address as a social entrepreneur? Discuss with a partner.
4.
Brainstorm how you would go about addressing this particular need. Come up with 5 ways.
Analyse which of the 5 ways discussed in the article would be the most appropriate for you to launch your social enterprise.
Discuss with a partner and share with the class.
Australian
Social Enterprise Awards
Middle
Australian
Curriculum General Capability: Ethical Understanding
Teacher
Unit of Work - PDF from Victorian Curriculum & Assessment Authority [VCAA]
Other Entrepreneurs listed in "Life on the Job"
|
Baker's Delight Lesley & Roger Gillespie  |
Florence Broadhurst
- Fabric & Wallpaper Designer |
Janine Ellis - Boost Juice |
Jim's Group |
Material sourced from
Federation Story
Copyright © On the Job Online
