A few years ago, Donna De Zwart, the Managing Director of Australian not-for-profit Fitted for Work, was invited to receive a donation. This wasn’t unusual. Companies were often giving money, and when they did, Donna was usually invited down to collect the cheque in person.
“They had a bit of a gathering in the staff room,” Donna remembers, “and this guy, probably early 30s, comes over to me with tears in his eyes and he said, ‘My mum came to your service 18 years ago. She came to Australia with her husband and two children from The Philippines.’”
He told her that his dad left as soon as they arrived in Australia, leaving his mum with two kids in a social housing flat, worrying about their future. “Because she came to Fitted for Work, she got a job in a bank, and that changed the trajectory of her life, as well as her son’s,” Donna recalls. “He now works for a big financial services organisation.”
Two decades of lasting impact
Donna feels lucky to hear stories like this all the time, and it’s the reason Fitted for Work exists. For nearly 20 years they’ve been helping women, non-binary and gender-diverse jobseekers find meaningful employment. Over 45,000 women facing barriers to entering the workforce – including migrants, refugees and ex-prisoners – have used their programs since 2005.
In that time, Fitted for Work has grown from a pure outfitting service run out of a garage to a full job-readiness hub that covers every stage of the journey, from CV-writing to mentor programs and beyond. They also have a sister social enterprise, a second-hand shop called The Conscious Closet, which helps fund Fitted for Work’s core purpose.
“We believe every woman is entitled to economic independence and financial security, and we believe the best way for her to achieve that is through employment,” Donna says.
The program works, too. The average Fitted for Work client finds employment within just 73 days.
An tailored approach
So, how does it actually work?
Each person who comes to Fitted for Work has different experiences, needs and skill sets. That’s why the process begins with a one-on-one consultation that goes through the client’s job history, goals and interests. The client is then referred on to one or more of Fitted for Work’s various services, which are available in-person at their office in Melbourne’s Richmond or online Australia-wide.
“It might be a confidence-building workshop,” Donna says, “or our job hub services, where we look at things like resumes, interview skills, job search skills and so on.” Confidence and skill-building is a big part of Fitted for Work’s process, especially if the client hasn’t been in the workplace for a long time.
From there, they may be referred to the personal outfitting service, which is kitted out via donations of pre-loved clothes and partnerships with fashion brands. The showroom, based in Fitted for Work’s headquarters, helps clients put together a work-ready clothing capsule so they can put their best foot forward in interviews or the office.
While employment is the end goal, it’s not the finish line. “Once a woman does get a job, we encourage her to take up our mentoring program, which will help her stay in employment for the next six to 12 months,” Donna says. “That’s important, because we know problems don’t just magically disappear when you get a job.”
Closing the gender pay and employment gap
Fitted for Work’s services have never been more crucial. Although the unemployment rate for women is technically lower than men (3.9% compared to 4.5%, as of July 2024), women face much higher rates of underemployment (7.9% compared to men’s 5.4%), not to mention a stubborn gender pay gap, which was still sitting at 11.5% in May 2024. This is all exacerbated by Australia’s high childcare costs, compared to other OECD countries.
Still, there are encouraging signs. That pay gap, while significant, is Australia’s lowest on record, down from 17.2% a decade ago. Female labour market participation was 63.2% in July 2024, too, which is a new record high. Organisations like Fitted for Work are determined to see these inequities continue to shrink.
“On the surface, a lot of people think we’re just about helping women find jobs, but actually it’s about gender equality,” Donna says. “It’s ensuring that women have that financial independence and security, so they can have agency in their own lives. We know that when we help one woman find a job, it doesn’t end with her. She brings that independence and security to her family, and society as a whole. It’s really beautiful to see.”
How Bank Australia is supporting Fitted for Work’s mission
As a not-for-profit Bank Australia customer, Fitted for Work successfully applied for one of this year’s community customer grants. Every year we commit up to 4% of our annual after-tax profit to our Impact Fund, and every year we draw on that fund to help worthy not-for-profit organisations who bank with us, like Fitted for Work, to do amazing things in the community.
“The demand for our services has grown exponentially,” Donna says, “particularly in the last 12 months. This Bank Australia grant will allow 50 women, non-binary and gender-diverse people from around Australia to participate in our programs.”
Donna says Fitted for Work was drawn to Bank Australia due to our similar values, especially when it comes to engagement and advocacy.
“What we love most about banking with Bank Australia is that it’s a bank that gives a voice to Australians, and a voice to women,” Donna says. “That really aligns with us.”
Learn more about Bank Australia’s community customer grants.
