We are excited to announce our newonlineWomen’s Return to Work Program, based on our highly successful programs delivered across the ACT and NSW since 2020.
NSW Programs
Empowering Women – Return to Work Pathways Program
Our 2023-24 Women’s Return to Work Pathways program was delivered in partnership with the St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn and funded by the NSW Government through Women NSW.
The program included workshops and individual mentoring sessions to support women living on the NSW far South Coast, as well as the Goulburn and Young regions and included a series of three workshops in each location, focused on:
Identifying goals and time management skills
Applying for jobs
Drafting resumes and cover letters
Preparing for job interviews
Personal presentation for the workplace
Guest speakers: mindfulness and managing stress, as well as a Makeup Artist to explore job-appropriate presentation.
Following the workshops, women attended individual mentoring sessions with our mentors who are experts in community services and recruitment. Our mentors provide referrals to support services, discuss individual goals, training and career options, assist with job applications, coaching for job interviews, as well as exploring volunteer/work experience opportunities.
Women NSW
Women NSW is the NSW Government’s agency responsible for improving the lives of women in NSW. More information about their programs is available on their website.
‘It was great to know Deborah and the team. The women return to work workshops were really good and fun, I have gained lots of practical knowledge and made new friends!’
ACT Programs
From 2020-2022, we worked closely with the ACT Office for Women and SPARK Ginninderry’s Training & Employment program to deliver various Women’s Return to Work programs.
Women’s Return to Work Grant program
The ACT Office for Women manages the Women’s Return to Work Grants Program. This is an ACT Government initiative that supports women who have been out of the workforce for an extended period, onto pathways to meaningful and stable employment.
Through the program, successful applicants can access a $1,000 grant for a range of activities and resources, including:
education and training fees
educational expenses such as textbooks, computers/software and transport to courses/study
work-related expenses such as clothing, uniforms and equipment, and childcare
We provided eligible women with individual mentoring services to guide them in spending the Grant and helping to breakdown some of the barriers and challenges with progressing their work and study goals.
Women’s Return to Work Program
In partnership with SPARK Ginninderry’s Training and Employment Program, we delivered a Women Return to Work program that included workshops and individual mentoring sessions focused on developing:
goal setting
resume writing
job searching
job interview techniques
Women also received up to 3 hours of individual mentoring sessions to guide them to their next career step. Find out more about the SPARK Program, an initiative of Ginninderry.
Read about how this program changed one woman’s life – page 34 of the Ginninderry Inspire Magazine.
Listen to our Director, Deborah Fulton talk about the program in the Ginninderry Inspire Podcast.
‘I started at zero when I first moved to Canberra in 2019. I wasn’t really sure if I could find a job after taking a maternity break in career with not lot of previous work experience. The Women’s Return to Work program provides learning opportunities to build up enough knowledge and skills required to set yourself back to work. The manager and founder, Deborah Fulton is very enthusiastic and a helpful person by all ways and means. I was able to secure a APS job at Services Australia with all her guidance in the Women’s Return to Work program.’