Page 1535 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 March 2012
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There have been further good news stories achieved through the ACT women’s micro credit program, brilliant ideas, which, since it began in 2010, has supported over 33 women on low incomes to either establish or further develop a business through no-interest loans. Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre administers the program and provides participants with access to mentoring, training and networking opportunities. Participants are encouraged to participate in peer support group sessions and the Canberra BusinessPoint programs of workshops, clinics and master classes covering topics including marketing, financial management, employment, law, government tendering and insurance. Through this program, women entrepreneurs have developed innovative business ideas in areas such as allied health, cleaning, cosmetics, education, food, recreation, professional services, waste management, fashion, accessories and arts and cultural products.
A small, no-interest loan can make an enormous difference to women struggling to turn a great idea into a successful business. In fact, two of the women’s micro credit program participants have recently won Canberra BusinessPoint awards, including a clean and green business award and a creative and design business award. Both the micro credit loans program and the return to work grants program continue to provide to women who are disadvantaged assistance to commence their journey towards independence.
Another facet of this assistance is that given to women from multicultural backgrounds. Last year, the Multicultural Women’s Advisory Group received funding to address a service gap identified by women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The Multicultural Women’s Advocacy employability partnership program assisted women who have been in Australia for less than three years to seek, obtain and sustain employment. In December last year I was privileged to present the 17 graduates of this program with certificates. Their stories were deeply moving and their success quite inspiring. And this is just one of the initiatives funded through the ACT women’s grants. The program provides $100,000 and is available to groups and organisations to develop activities to improve the status of women and girls in the ACT.
Some of the recipients of the 2011-12 women’s grants program include the know before you go project, which will support women with disabilities to access mainstream services, and respect communicate choose, which is a YWCA of Canberra initiative, which will see the development of educational resources to better equip primary school girls and boys with the skills to develop and maintain safe and respectful relationships.
The Audrey Fagan young women’s enrichment grants program is a component of the Audrey Fagan scholarships program and honours Ms Fagan’s support and mentoring of young women. These grants provide for funding of up to $2,000 for young women aged between 13 and 18 years to develop their skills and enhance their knowledge in their chosen career path. In 2011 the enrichment grants helped eight young ACT women pursue their areas of interest, including a young zoological architect.
The value of the range of these programs cannot be underestimated. They provide grassroots, practical support for women with limited financial means so that they can participate across all aspects of our community. We are currently experiencing one of
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