Sisterworks Inc

Employment can be so much more than earning an income.

For women building a life in a new country, work can mean greater independence, new connections, opportunities to practise English and the chance to put existing skills and experience to use.

Yet for too many women from migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds, finding that first opportunity in Australia can take far longer than it should.

Skills, experience and a willingness to work are already there. What can be missing is a clear pathway into the Australian workforce.

That’s why economic participation needs to be part of the settlement journey from the beginning, not something that comes later.

When women have the opportunity to work, they can build greater economic independence and create stronger foundations for themselves and their families.

Twenty women. Twenty automated interviews. Twenty rejections.

That was the experience SisterWorks Head of Programs Mamiko Nakada shared at an inclusive employment forum hosted by the Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre last week.

It was an outcome SisterWorks would not normally see.

After concerns were raised, the employer acknowledged the automated tool appeared to be excluding the cohort. The Sisters were instead given face-to-face interviews and went on to successfully progress.

For women from migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds, getting an opportunity to demonstrate what they can do can already take far too long. As AI becomes more common in recruitment, we need to make sure technology isn't creating another barrier.

AI is here to stay, and building digital literacy is an important part of preparing women for the changing workplace. But there are some decisions where human judgement still matters enormously.

Thank you to Cam Lucadou-Wells and Star Journal for highlighting the discussion.

You can find the full story here
https://dandenong.starcommunity.com.au/news/2026-08-31/ai-bias-against-workplace-diversity/

What you choose to send to a client, employee, speaker or partner can say a lot about what your organisation values.

Our 2026 Corporate Gifting Collection makes it easier to choose beautifully presented gifts that people will genuinely enjoy, while creating meaningful social impact.

From gourmet and wellness hampers to smaller gifts for events, speakers, volunteers and teams, the collection features products from SisterWorks alongside women-led businesses, Indigenous-owned businesses and Australian social enterprises.

Every SisterWorks hamper is packed by women from migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds, creating employment opportunities and supporting women to build economic independence in Australia.

Choose a gift your people will enjoy and your organisation will be proud to send.

Explore our 2026 hamper range and shop online:
https://shop.sisterworks.org.au/sisterworks-hampers/

Planning a larger order or looking for something more tailored? Contact [email protected] to discuss volume orders, customisation and delivery.

SisterWorks Hampers Thoughtful gifts that create meaningful social impact while supporting women-led creativity, employment and ethical production.

Building a business in a new country can mean learning a whole new way of doing things.

Last Friday, our Term 3 Small Business Sisters in Carlton welcomed Fotini from Prisma Legal for a practical session on company structures and legal requirements in Australia.

It was an opportunity for Sisters to ask questions, understand some of the decisions involved in setting up and running a business, and learn directly from professional expertise they can draw on as their businesses develop.

Our free Small Business Program supports women from migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds to build their business knowledge, develop their ideas and grow their confidence as entrepreneurs.

A big thank you to Fotini and Prisma Legal for spending the session with our Sisters and sharing your knowledge. 💜

Retired Hockeyroos and Kookaburras match kits are creating new value.

Through SisterWorks’ CircularWorks service, Hockey Australia’s match kits that have reached the end of their original use are being transformed into useful new products at our Springvale Manufacturing Hub.

The project has already created paid work for four Sisters, more than 70 hours of employment and up to $9,000 in social return.

It’s a great example of how materials can stay in circulation for longer while creating meaningful employment opportunities for women from migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds.

See what the Hockey Australia materials are becoming and learn more about the project:
https://sisterworks.org.au/articles/partnership-highlights/hockey-australia

We genuinely cannot thank you enough.

Over the past week, so many of you donated, shared our campaign, encouraged others to give and stood behind the work of SisterWorks. This morning, that support took us over our $6,000 matched giving goal.

Seeing our community come together and show up for us like this means so much.

Every donation, no matter the size, was someone choosing to back migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker women and the opportunities that meaningful work can create.

To everyone who showed up for us, thank you. Your support means more than we can put into a post.

And to EthicalJobs.com.au, thank you for making this opportunity possible and doubling every donation.

We are incredibly grateful to have you all in our corner.

ONLY HOURS LEFT TO DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT.

We’re at 35% of our $6,000 goal, and the clock is ticking.

Until 12pm Thursday, every donation to SisterWorks will be matched dollar for dollar by EthicalJobs.com.au.

That means your donation can go twice as far in helping migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker women build skills and move towards meaningful employment.

We still have $3,910 left to unlock. Can you help us get there?

Donate before 12pm Thursday

https://chuffed.org/project/ethicaljobs-sisterworks26-matched-donations

"When I first arrived in Australia, I faced many challenges, especially with the language and having no work experience. I applied for many jobs and often went to Afghan shops to ask for work. They only took my number but never called me. I waited every day, but nothing happened for about six months."

After arriving in Australia from Afghanistan, Sharifa spent months looking for work but struggled to secure that first opportunity.

While searching for work, she met another Sister who shared her own employment journey through SisterWorks and encouraged Sharifa to apply.

Through SisterWorks, Sharifa built her confidence, strengthened her job readiness and prepared for employment in Australia. She then secured her first Australian role through our partnership with IKEA Springvale.

Today, she's part of a workplace where she feels welcomed and supported.
"IKEA is a very kind and supportive workplace, and I really enjoy working there."

Looking back, Sharifa hopes more women who are new to Australia know that support is available.

"I highly recommend SisterWorks to all sisters who are new in Australia. It is a very helpful program for finding jobs, building a resume, and getting support in many areas. I am sincerely grateful to the SisterWorks program for everything it has done for me. It truly changed my life in a positive way."