NSW offering up to $2 million to support women's workforce participation

Grants of up to $250,000 per project made available by the NSW government

BY Dexter Tilo 12 Nov 2024

The New South Wales government is offering up to $2 million in funding under a new programme for organisations supporting women facing barriers to employment.

Under the 2024-2025 Return to Work Pathways Programme, the NSW government is offering between $100,000 and $250,000 per project to help women across the state become job-ready.

The programme targets women who experience lower workforce participation rates, including those from eight priority groups:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
Women with disabilities
Carers
Older women (over 55 years)
Young women (17-24 years)
Women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
Women living in regional, rural, and remote areas (particularly Far West NSW and North West NSW)
Women living in Western Sydney

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison emphasised the importance of initiatives like the Return to Work Pathways Programme in boosting both the economy and women's wellbeing.

"Encouraging and supporting women to enter or re-enter the workforce is essential to building their confidence and wellbeing, as well as boosting the economy and benefitting families across NSW," Harrison said in a statement.

Boosting women's participation at work

Since its launch in 2023, the programme has funded 22 projects and helped over 1,000 women with employment. The funding supports organisations that provide tailored return-to-work initiatives aimed at addressing the barriers many women face in re-entering the workforce, such as training, mentoring, and direct pathways to employment.

"Projects funded under the Return to Work Pathways programme help women overcome barriers and provide them with the opportunity to secure sustainable employment that they might have otherwise missed out on," Harrison said.

Applications for the Return to Work Pathways Programme are open until December 6. The New South Wales government encourages eligible organisations to apply for the grants to help advance economic participation for women in the state.