The NSW Government's 2024-2025 Return to Work Pathways Program is now open for organisations to fund tailored projects aimed at supporting women experiencing barriers to employment to become job-ready.
Between $100,000 to $250,000 per organisation, up to a total of $2 million in funding, will be available to support the needs of diverse women in NSW who experience lower workforce participation rates.
Organisations working with the following eight priority groups are eligible to apply for funding:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
- women with disability
- 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 (see the eligibility criteria for the list of Local Government Areas).
Priorities under the NSW Women's Strategy are to boost women's economic opportunity, health and wellbeing and participation and empowerment.
Since its launch in 2023, the Return to Work Pathways Program has funded 22 successful projects and supported more than 1,000 women with their employment goals.
Tailored return-to-work projects are being delivered, addressing the barriers that prevent women re-entering the workforce and providing wraparound supports, including training, mentoring and pathways to employment.
