Scaling Impact Through Purpose-Led Partnership: SisterWorks x dusk
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When dusk engaged SisterWorks to produce a national run of premium heat packs for retail, they entrusted a significant body of work to a mission-driven enterprise.
When dusk engaged SisterWorks to produce a national run of premium heat packs for retail, they entrusted a significant body of work to a mission-driven enterprise.
The brief was ambitious: a substantial quantity of heat packs, filled with Australian-grown lupin grain, produced to retail specification, and delivered within a tight timeline. For many suppliers, such a timeline would be a stretch. For SisterWorks, it was an opportunity to demonstrate not only capability but care, delivering quality at scale while staying true to purpose.
This project was delivered in partnership with Pilbeam Living, as part of their 'Community Partnership Project' with dusk. SisterWorks, a not-for-profit social enterprise that supports women from migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker backgrounds to gain economic independence through employment and entrepreneurship, brought this opportunity to life through its established Springvale Manufacturing Hub. Under the leadership of SisterWorks Production Manager, Manaka, a skilled team of nine women, known within the SisterWorks community as “Sisters”, led the production process. The term “Sisters” reflects not just their shared experiences, but the solidarity and strength that underpin the organisation’s mission.
Guided by the principles of Kaizen — a continuous improvement methodology introduced to SisterWorks by our partners at Toyota Production System Support Centre — each step of the process was executed with intention and precision. From weighing and filling the lupin grain to sewing, quality checking, and packaging, no detail was overlooked. Over five days, the team completed more than 210 hours of paid employment, with every heat pack meticulously crafted to meet commercial standards.
For the Sisters, this wasn’t just work, it was a moment to prove what’s possible. One Sister reflected on how this was her first commercial manufacturing project and described the pride she felt watching the pallets leave the facility, knowing the products she helped create would soon be on shelves across the country.
For dusk, the project offered more than just a retail product. It was a chance to collaborate with a values-led enterprise capable of delivering at speed and scale, while also empowering women from diverse backgrounds. The success of this partnership lies not only in the volume delivered, but in the care, capability, and purpose infused into every product.
This project marked an important milestone for SisterWorks. It demonstrated our ability to meet national commercial demands while creating real employment and building transferable skills for women who are often excluded from traditional pathways.
Create Impact Through Purpose-Driven Manufacturing
Are you seeking a partner who can deliver high-quality products at scale, while also creating real social impact? SisterWorks is your answer. Our manufacturing hubs provide employment, skills development, and economic independence to women from migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker backgrounds.
Join us in creating products with purpose. Let’s explore how we can bring your next project to life while empowering women to thrive.