Page 718 - Week 02 - Thursday, 10 March 2011
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identify benchmark data for gender equity, and this work will be completed in the next couple of months. Indicators of progress, such as women’s participation in non-traditional trades training, will be measured by enhanced data collection and analysis by the Office for Women. The Office for Women will publish ongoing progress outcomes which will highlight women and girls’ participation and equity in our community against key indicators as established by the current women’s plan. Progress will be published twice during the life of the 2010-15 plan.
In the last three years this government has announced new initiatives which seek to assist and encourage women to reach their economic potential. In January 2008, the former Minister for Women, Minister Gallagher, successfully launched the ACT women’s return to work grant program. Each grant is valued at $1,000 and is designed to assist women on low incomes to break certain barriers which they face whilst returning to work after an extended period out of paid employment.
These return to work grants are tailor-made for each applicant and their personal circumstances. The program and grants provide practical assistance to women by funding skills development and other related expenses. To date, over 300 women have received financial assistance through these return to work grants and the program. One woman, a mother of four, who is making a new life for herself here in Canberra, after fleeing conflict in Sudan, found it difficult to put food on the family table whilst attempting to meet the costs of studying for her bachelor of nursing. The $1,000 return to work grant gave her financial relief and comfort and enabled her to buy textbooks and pay for course fees without breaking the family budget.
In May last year a survey of women who received a return to work grant in the previous 12 months showed that 78 per cent had obtained employment. Recently I have expanded the eligibility criteria for the return to work grants, with an overall aim of enabling older women to access this program and financial assistance. I have made these changes, Madam Assistant Speaker, because I recognise that in the modern day, increasingly older women are vulnerable to financial insecurity, and that women of all ages who have not been in the workforce for an extended period of time due to caring responsibilities can face significant barriers when trying to re-enter paid employment. I believe these changes to the eligibility criteria will promote the positive advancement of opportunities and employment security for older women.
In March last year I launched the ACT women’s micro-credit loans program. This program is designed to give women with big dreams and big ideas and business initiatives, but who are unfortunately on low incomes, generous financial assistance to help them establish their own small business, which will provide them the opportunity to finally make their dreams a reality.
The micro-credit program includes mentoring and peer support, which complements the financial assistance of a non-interest loan of up to $3,000. Seventeen loans have been approved within these first 12 months. Both the micro-credit loans program and the return to work grants program continue to support and assist women who are economically disadvantaged to commence their journey towards independence.
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