Australia’s Leading Co-operative and Mutual Enterprises in 2024: CEMI Discussion Paper Series, DP 2401: CEMI Discussion Paper Series

This paper reports on a research study that maps the size and structure of the Co-operative and Mutual enterprise (CME) sector in Australia. The Australian CME Index (ACMEI) is a longitudinal study that can provide a better understanding of these firms and their economic and social contribution to the national economy. This year the study found a total of 1,819 active CMEs of which 80.6% were co-operatives, 15.8% mutual enterprises, 2% were friendly societies and 1.5% were member-owned superannuation funds. These firms had a combined active membership base of more than 34.8 million memberships1, managed over $164.3 billion in assets, and employed at least 89,046 people. They encompassed a wide range of industry sectors and provided significant economic and social benefits to their members.