Dress for Success

On International Womens' Day, Empower Hour 2020 takes women from welfare to work

This International Women's Day (8 March) non-profit organisation 'Dress for Success' is calling on both men and women to give one hour of their pay to set a woman on her path to success, employment and financial independence. Through the national Empower Hour campaign (#empowerhour) Australians can help women in crisis to achieve economic independence and get back into the workforce.

Australians can get involved in this unique fundraising initiative by donating one hour of their pay during the month of March or by hosting an Empower Hour/ International Women's Day event with friends and colleagues. Funds raised will support women, who have experienced upheaval or crisis, through Dress for Success' life-changing program and into work.

"The International Women's Day 2020 campaign theme is #EachforEqual. With recent statistics revealing the number of Australian unemployed women is 326,000, with 100,000 women seeking work in NSW each year, Empower Hour couldn't be more important," said Tanya Jackson-Vaughan, Chief Executive Officer of Dress for Success Sydney (DFSS).

Many of the women supported by Dress for Success have experienced some degree of poverty, hardship, domestic violence, racism, abuse or negative life circumstance that has had a negative impact on their self-confidence, making them doubt their capabilities.

The purpose of Dress for Success is to improve employment opportunities for NSW based women who are struggling to secure employment and are experiencing varying degrees of poverty, hardship, abuse or disadvantage.

Donating just one hour of pay enables Dress for Success to transform women's lives by instilling confidence, restoring dignity and providing the employability skills necessary to secure employment and achieve financial stability. Funds raised will go to one-on-one career coaching, employment skills training, resumé support, interview preparation, introduction to peer networks, confidence boosting workshops and clothes for job interviews.

"Empower Hour is the ultimate pay-it-forward campaign. Australia's support means we can assist in transforming lives of women by instilling confidence, restoring dignity and providing them with the tools necessary to secure and sustain employment. Our impact doesn't stop with one woman. For every dollar invested in Dress for Success Sydney there is a $5.11 social return on investment. Change a woman's life, you change the life of her children and her extended family. Together, with your help, we can make lasting change", added Tanya Jackson-Vaughan.

This year's campaign ambassadors include journalist and media personality Deborah Knight, Qantas Magazine Editor Kirsten Galliott, writer and sustainability expert Rosie Dalton, GlamCorner co-founder Audrey Khaing- Jones and many fearless female leaders.

Dress for Success has inspired change and provides support to more than 3500 women across Australia each year.

Empower Hour 2020
WHEN: International Womens' Day - Friday 8 March 2020
HOW: Donate now and throughout March via empowerhour.org.au
CONTACT: For more information and to donate visit empowerhour.org.au or call 02 9517 9537