The government is committed to the economic advancement and empowerment of women and girls in the state, two key pillars of the NSW Women’s Strategy. This will help improve gender equality and benefit our economy.

In the latest round of the Return to Work Pathways program, prioritised specific groups, including Aboriginal women and girls, regional, rural and remote women, LGBTIQA+ women, those with disability, mental illness, veterans and who have contact with the criminal justice system.

This additional focus acknowledges the intersecting barriers some women face that contribute to lower workforce participation.

The successful projects comprise tailored return-to-work programs that decrease the barriers that prevent women from re-entering the workforce and provide wraparound supports including training, mentoring and pathways to employment.

Since the launch of Return to Work Pathways Program in 2022-2023, the program has funded a total of 22 successful projects and supported more than 1,000 women with their employment goals. The 2024-25 NSW Budget has provided a further $2 million to continue this impactful program for another year.

The nine recipients of this year’s Return to Work Pathways grants, who will each receive between $100,000 and $250,000, are:

• ACON’s ‘Proud and Ready: Empowering LGBTQ+ women in community health promotion’ - providing an evidence-based paid health promotion and community development internship and peer network for NSW LGBTQ+ women.
• Beacon Laundry’s‘Women @ Work: supporting jobs and employment for long-term unemployed women living in the Northern Rivers region of NSW’ - focusing on women facing significant barriers to employment and providing pathways to employment at Beacon Laundry or in mainstream employment. The project provides tailored wraparound supports, mentoring and on-the-job training,
• Community Resources Limited’s ‘The RENEW Project – Rejuvenating Employment, Nurturing and Empowering Women’ - engaging with Aboriginal women in the Forster-Tuncurry region through a flexible and culturally safe program that includes training, employment, and mentoring. Participants will build on-the-job skills and confidence, receiving holistic support to achieve qualifications and lasting employment.
• COMPACT Incorporated’s ‘Successful Futures for Regional Women and Girls’ - targeting regional women and girls at all stages of their career journey, directly supporting them to confidently enter or return to work, gain work experience, upskill, refresh or change career pathways.
• Generation Australia’s Empowered Pathways - supporting 60 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women into employment through training, mentorship, wraparound support, and employment support.
• Her Futures Foundation’s ‘First Nations Women’s Business Return to Work 2024’ - supporting Aboriginal women and girls to enter or re-enter the workforce. Services will include culturally appropriate wraparound supports to assist those experiencing complex and persistent barriers to employment while supporting women to gain increased work readiness, confidence and employment.
• Jigsaw Group’s ‘Employment support for women with disability’ - offering 10 weeks of employment training and work experience to women with disability who do not receive NDIS funding. It will provide them with wraparound support for their employment journeys for the long-term.
• SHINE for Kids’ ‘Stand as One: Youth Mentoring for At-Risk Young Women’ - a holistic, strengths-based mentoring program for young women at-risk of entering the justice system, or those transitioning out of custody in Western Sydney. The program supports young women with complex, overlapping life challenges to re-engage with employment and community, and help them thrive.
• Success Works ‘The Pathways to Potential Program’ - providing employment or employment pathway support for 50 women with a criminal record, to help them achieve financial independence. Mentoring, one-to-one support, job readiness workshops and introductions to supportive employer partners will be provided to these women to succeed.

For more information on grant program recipients visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/return-to-work-pathways-program

To see the NSW Women’s Strategy 2023-2026, go to https://www.nsw.gov.au/women-nsw/nsw-womens-strategy-2023-2026.

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“Women in the workforce are essential to keeping the economy running and should receive equitable opportunity to succeed in their career aspirations.

“Women often face social expectations to take time off work when there is a change in their personal or family circumstances, and the Return to Work Pathways programs provide avenues into work and careers where women can continue to maintain financial security and economic independence.

“I’m pleased that this year’s program was able to focus on projects that support specific groups of women who face multiple barriers to employment, helping them overcome those barriers and return to the workplace more smoothly.

“The NSW Government is absolutely committed to ensuring women are presented with economic opportunities that boost their participation and empowerment, to create a more gender equal society.”

CEO of Success Works Kerrie Sheaves said:

“Our big goals are to serve 900 women per year across NSW and to be working with 1,000 employers open to employing people on merit and skills not just their record, while partnering with organisations that provide complimentary wraparound support services.”