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Better ways to help women back into work

In January, BSL was pleased to host Members of the House of Representatives Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services to our SEED (Sustaining Economic Empowerment and Dignity) Project in Seymour.

SEED
The SEED project team with government visitors, stakeholders, and participants from left to right: Sean Cory (Our Place CEO), Mr Russell Broadbent (Deputy Chair, Workforce Australia Committee), Marta Kreiser (Stepping Stones Program Manager, BSL), Dina Bowman (Principal Research Fellow, BSL), Melinda Moore (Acting Director Community Programs, BSL), Rebecca Pinney Meddings (Senior Manager, Financial Inclusion, BSL), Program Participant, Mr. Julian Hill (Chair, Workforce Australia Committee), Program Participant, Travers McCleod (Executive Director, BSL), Program Participant, Penny Bohm (SEED Project Manager, BSL) Note participant names are withheld for privacy reasons.

In January, BSL was pleased to host Members of the House of Representatives Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services to our SEED (Sustaining Economic Empowerment and Dignity) Project in Seymour. This BSL initiative provides local women with free personalised support to build their confidence and skills to get ahead financially.

Committee Chair Julian Hill MP , Deputy Chair Russell Broadbent MP , Sean Cory (Our Place CEO), BSL’s Executive Director Travers McLeod, and BSL staff listened to participants explain the positive impact of this voluntary employment engagement program on their lives. They spoke about how the program empowered them to take ownership of their finances and build pathways for economic and social participation.

SEED Project participant Alice recounted:

“I found a sense of belonging and empowerment in the SEED Project that every woman needs. Learning to recognise my skills and strengths and how these can be translated into employment, or setting up a small business, was inspiring and encouraging. Throughout the program I became part of a community and regained my hope for the future.“

After reading and hearing about the SEED Project in BSL’s presentations to their inquiry, it was identified by the Committee as an example of innovative practice that they wanted to learn more about through an in-person visit. They wanted to explore it as a potential alternative to the ParentsNext program, as part of their goal to improve employment services across Australia. BSL had submitted evidence to the Committee about why we think SEED’s approach works better for parents with children under six when they are planning for future study or employment. Importantly it achieves impressive results without the punitive nature of the current ParentsNext model.

After visiting the SEED project, the committee’s Interim Report recommended ParentsNext should be abolished at the end of its current contracts and replaced with a supportive pre-vocational service. BSL is very proud of the part we played in the Committee arriving at this recommendation and we look forward to having further input as we host two more community consultations with people who have direct experience of Workforce Australia Employment Services in April.

Find out more here .