Google.org funds program for women with disabilities

Global Sisters, a not-for-profit organisation founded by social entrepreneur Mandy Richards in 2016, is dedicated to empowering women to achieve financial independence by helping them start their own businesses. 

With the generous support of a grant from Google.org amounting to USD $500,000 (AUD $736,579), Global Sisters is set to launch a three-year pilot program focused on enabling women with disabilities and their carers to attain economic self-sufficiency.

The motivation behind this initiative stems from the realization that women with disabilities face significant barriers to employment, making it difficult for them to access mainstream job opportunities. According to the Australian Institute’s Health and Wellness report in 2022, one in six Australians has a disability. Notably, women comprise half of the Australian population with disabilities, yet they represent only a third of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) recipients. This disparity is further exacerbated by conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, which often disqualify them from receiving disability payments through NDIS. Consequently, any employment they secure is usually part-time and low-paid.

Global Sisters aims to bridge this gap by providing flexible and sustainable job opportunities for 100 women with disabilities through their innovative program. The organization’s scalable model focuses on supporting women to create income streams via self-employment when traditional employment options are limited or inaccessible.

Mandy Richards, the driving force behind Global Sisters, emphasizes the significance of the grant from Google.org in facilitating economic participation and empowerment for women with disabilities. The program equips these women with the necessary tools, skills, coaching, community connections, and business networks to establish their own micro-businesses, ultimately leading them on the path to financial independence.

As Ms. Richards highlights, the barriers to economic participation and employment faced by women in the program are amplified for those with disabilities and those caring for individuals with disabilities. By breaking the cycle of exclusion and poverty, Global Sisters aims to enable each participant to generate a sustainable income through their micro-businesses.

Global Sisters’ program is accessible to women across Australia, requiring only a smartphone and internet access. Participants receive long-term business support tailored to their specific needs and preferences, allowing them to take control of their entrepreneurial journey.

The organization’s impact has been evident through its 2022 Impact Report, which reveals that 72 per cent of women enrolled in the program achieved a business income after six months or more with Global Sisters. Over the years, Global Sisters has successfully supported over 5,500 women and facilitated over $7.6 million worth of pro bono business support for emerging women-led micro-businesses. The impact has been transformative, with women leaving the welfare system, becoming employers themselves, and achieving homeownership.

Ms. Richards calls for increased corporate and individual involvement in supporting Global Sisters’ mission. This could be through pro bono coaching and business services, financial investment, collaboration, corporate engagement, or purchasing from the Global Sisters’ Marketplace for gifting or catering purposes.

Visit globalsisters.org for more information.

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