Why Leading Organisations Are Partnering with SisterWorks

The event brought together organisations across hospitality, manufacturing, transport, retail and sport to explore how partnership, employment and social procurement can create long-term economic opportunities for women from migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds.

Opening the event, SisterWorks CEO Ifrin Fittock reflected on the organisation’s journey from a small market stall started by nine migrant women to a social enterprise that has now supported more than 3,700 women from over 105 nationalities.

“At our core, we are a social enterprise,” Ifrin shared. “We believe that providing employment opportunities is key to what we do because Work Empowers Women.”

Today, SisterWorks employs women across its hospitality, catering, retail and CircularWorks manufacturing social enterprises while also delivering employment pathway programs designed to connect women with meaningful work through corporate and industry partnerships.

Throughout the morning, partners shared how collaboration with SisterWorks has created both commercial and social impact within their organisations.

Representatives from Minderoo Foundation, L’Oréal Australia, Yarra Trams, Richmond Football Club and the Royal Children’s Hospital spoke about the value of partnerships that create genuine pathways to employment and economic participation.

“We’re not just doing business,” Laura from L’Oréal Australia shared. “We’re building a collective movement toward a more inclusive future.”

“We did not do this out of charity and we didn’t do it for a photo opportunity,” Francesca said. “We turned operational needs into meaningful and skilled work for migrant, asylum seeker and refugee women.”

The partnership has already created thousands of employment hours for Sisters while helping build technical manufacturing capability within SisterWorks’ Springvale Manufacturing Hub.

Richmond Football Club also reflected on how its partnership with SisterWorks began through sustainability goals and textile waste reduction before evolving into a broader social impact partnership.

“We had materials that needed to be reused more appropriately, and that’s where SisterWorks came in,” Richmond Football Club’s Michael Lacey shared. “The environmental impact became deeply connected to the social impact and employment outcomes for the Sisters.”

The event also highlighted how organisations are embedding inclusive employment pathways into their workplaces.

Andre from the Royal Children’s Hospital spoke about the value Sisters bring to teams and workplaces, reflecting on the importance of creating supportive environments where women feel safe, respected and empowered to grow in confidence.

“The women who have joined our team through SisterWorks have been phenomenal additions,” he shared. “Their stories of bravery and overcoming adversity make our teams stronger.”

Throughout the morning, Sisters shared their own experiences of rebuilding confidence, finding belonging and securing employment through SisterWorks programs and partnerships.

Agatha, who joined SisterWorks after arriving in Australia from Nigeria, spoke powerfully about rebuilding her life after experiencing trauma, displacement and uncertainty.

“When I visited SisterWorks, what I saw renewed my hope for a better future,” she shared.

“SisterWorks programmes reshaped and remoulded me to be fit for the labour market.”

Sister Dinithi also reflected on her journey from arriving in Australia as a migrant mother to becoming Production Supervisor at the SisterWorks Springvale Manufacturing Hub, where she now supports the delivery of large-scale manufacturing and repurposing projects.

“It means the world to me,” Dignity shared. “I feel very confident and very grateful.”

The panel discussion reinforced a clear message throughout the event: creating employment pathways for women requires collaboration between social enterprises, employers, procurement teams and community partners.

SisterWorks Chief Commercial Officer Shamila Gopalan challenged organisations to think differently about employment and procurement, reminding the audience that economic participation starts with opportunity.

“The scales will not balance themselves,” she said. “They tip when employers change how they recruit, when partners rethink how they spend, and when we choose to see skills where systems told us to look away.”

The breakfast also highlighted the growing demand for SisterWorks programs, with more than 150 women currently on the waiting list for employment pathway support at the organisation’s Dandenong hub alone.

Closing the event, SisterWorks Board Chair, Caroline Mills encouraged organisations to continue turning intention into action through employment partnerships, social procurement and meaningful collaboration.

“Every contract, every order, every donation and every purchase translates into real jobs for women who are ready to work,” Caroline shared. “And when one woman works, our whole community moves forward.”

SisterWorks extends heartfelt thank you to all partners, sponsors, speakers, volunteers and guests who joined the 2026 International Women’s Day Breakfast and continue to support pathways to meaningful work for women from migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds.

Together, we continue to prove that Work Empowers Women.