“Every successful woman has a duty to reach back and pull up the women behind them” – Michelle Obama.
Meet Indah. Looking at her now, it’s hard to believe she was once homeless and unemployed.
Three months after arriving in Australia with her young family, Indah’s relationship broke down due to domestic violence. She had the courage to leave her abusive partner but with no home, no job and three children to provide for, one of whom has a disability, the outlook for Indah seemed bleak.
“I was in a dark place, I felt lost and hopeless,” Indah said.
Indah was learning English at a language school when she was referred to Dress for Success Sydney for a dressing and styling workshop. With encouragement, she went on to complete one of Dress for Success Sydney’s money management and resume writing workshops. These new skills, together with support and guidance from her coach, gave Indah the confidence, self-belief and resilience she needed to secure meaningful work.
Today Indah is working full time as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) and studying a Bachelor of Nursing She is happy, healthy and providing for her family.
“Dress for Success helped me to believe in myself and gave me the strength to not give up,” Indah said.
Indah’s story is not unique. She is just one of 350,000 women across Australia seeking employment. For many of these women, discrimination based on their appearance, disability, criminal history or ethnicity is a daily experience. It leaves their self-belief in tatters.
Dress for Success helps thousands of Australian women every year by providing the following free of charge services to women experiencing hardship:
