The NSW Government has awarded more than $2 million in grants to new projects that will support women from focus communities to become job-ready and secure sustainable employment.
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.
