Australian Not-for-profit Global Sisters will support 100 women with disabilities to create sustainable self employment and economic security, thanks to a AU$736,000 grant from Google.org.
Launched in 2016 by Australian social entrepreneur Mandy Richards, Global Sisters supports women to achieve financial independence through a scalable and efficient model, creating income streams via self-employment when mainstream employment is inaccessible.
The organisation has so far supported over 5,500 women and facilitated more than $7.6 million in pro bono business support to emerging women-led micro businesses, according to Richards.
The grant money from Google.org will enable Global Sisters to further their impact by rolling out a three-year pilot program designed to create flexible and sustainable jobs for women with disabilities who face barriers to employment.
Richards said the funding “will enable more women living with a disability to participate in our lifecycle of business support, so they can access all they need to start and grow their micro business, and embark on the path to financial independence.”
“Women with a disability and those who are permanent carers for people with a disability are frequently marginalised from mainstream employment due to structural, systemic barriers or are in low-paid employment.”
“The overall aim will be for each of these women to establish a micro business that generates a sustainable income for themselves,” said Richards.
One in six Australians are reported to have a disability, according to the Australian Institute’s 2022 Health and Wellness report.
Out of this population with disabilities, research from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) shows that women make up half of the people but represent just over a third of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) recipients.
The UNSW research shows this is because women are more likely to be diagnosed with disabilities that restrict their ability to receive disability payments through NDIS, such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Women are also more likely to take on part-time and low-paid work, making it harder to qualify.
Through their model, Richards said that Global Sisters has developed a solution to break this cycle of exclusion and poverty experienced by many women with disabilities.
“Our model equips women with confidence, skills, community connections, business networks, coaching, and flexible income necessary to foster economic participation and achieve financial independence over time that would otherwise be inaccessible via mainstream employment, “says Richards, adding that Globals Sisters is grateful that Google.org has seen potential in this model and supporting their demonstration project.
According to the Global Sisters’ 2022 Impact Report, 72 per cent of women enrolled in the Global Sisters’ program have achieved a business income after six months or more.
“Our intention is to increase accessibility and business as a genuine possibility for women with disabilities,” said Richards. It is also part of our broader systems change initiative with three demonstration projects, with specific cohorts of women, to provide critical impact evidence to create permanent welfare policy changes that will support women into self-employment.”
“Global Sisters aspires to transform the social system into a safety net rather than quicksand entrenching poverty. This demonstration project is a critical step in this mission.”