Who we are
SisterWorks supports women who are asylum seekers, refugees or migrants, to gain independence and become integrated into Australian society. We assist them to become business entrepreneurs, gain work experience, and develop their skills and confidence in a supportive environment. They are supported with opportunities to market their products and skills and develop their own business ventures.Our Story
SisterWorks commenced in May 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. We are a social enterprise working towards being sustainable but as a start-up we need the support of people to strengthen and grow. For this reason we have DGR status, allowing people to have tax deductions for their donations.
Our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Luz Restrepo, is a political refugee from Colombia. Her early experiences in Australia have determined the mission and values of SisterWorks. We believe that work empowers women and together we are strong.
From 23 women in 2013, we now have 75 Sisters from 24 different countries being supported by and working with a team of 60 volunteers and 4 part time staff. 12% of our entrepreneurs have established their own businesses and 20% of our entrepreneurs are attending markets to sell their products every week.
Physical and emotional challenges for our women:
- Lack of independence which increases feelings of isolation and uselessness.
- Little or no social network or family connection.
- No access to use of a private vehicle and lack of confidence in using public transport.
- Little or no English language.
SisterWorks Impact in last 12 months:
- 20% of Sisters use SisterWorks to primarily engage in the community.
- SisterWorks provides an extended family, mentors and friends.
- 15% of Sisters are now driving, 8% learning to drive and 60% are able to independently use public transport.
- 100% of the Sisters have gained confidence in being immersed into an English speaking environment.
Financial challenges for our women:
- Long term unemployment.
- Ignorance about Australian business regulations and practices.
- Dependence on welfare.
SisterWorks impact in last 12 months:
- 41% of Sisters are earning an income of up to $17,000 per year.
- 12% of Sisters are managing their businesses independent of support.
- 11% of Sisters are working full time in their business.
- 12% of Sisters are pursuing other business opportunities without any assistance.
- 16% of Sisters have begun creating new business ventures.
Our Projects
SisterWorks offers four levels of assistance:
Design Labs
Sessions where our entrepreneurs and volunteers work together to develop marketable products that our entrepreneurs can sell.
Business Labs
In these sessions our entrepreneurs, business mentors and industry experts can come together with the aim of creating sustainable micro-enterprises.
Mentoring
Volunteers provide one-on-one social, design and business support.
Work Labs
This provides an opportunity where the entrepreneurs learn by doing business and have the opportunity to earn an income:
- 91 Regular Markets
- 39 Pop-Up Markets
- New work opportunities: Home Parties and School workshops
- Sales online through our website and Etsy website
Where do we work?
SisterWorks is based in Melbourne and to date has operated at a number of temporary sites around the city. This way of working has limited our capacity to offer services on a full time basis and has created communication, logistical and operational difficulties. We need a permanent home, where all of our people can come to work together and where we can sell the products made by our entrepreneurs in a retail shop. Premises have been found in Richmond.
Why it matters?
We now have located a permanent home for SisterWorks in Richmond that requires a complete fit out. We need funds to purchase furniture and equipment.
What you can do to help?
Our new home will provide:
- a retail shop space.
- an area where the entrepreneurs will learn new talents and create their craft.
- a space where the entrepreneurs will acquire business skills.
- an area for small children to play and a small kitchen for socialising and refreshments.
By donating you can help us purchase the many items we need to furnish our new home which will provide a safe and inspiring place for our women to come together to share, learn and become empowered.
Learn more on our website, or follow us on Facebook.
