Enterprising Women

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Member Count: 438

A Best Practice Model and Resource for Community Workers

Women’s markets support economic participation

The core objective of Women’s Health in the North’s (WHIN’s) Enterprising Women program was to support marginalised women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to start their own business or learn more about the financial systems and structures in Australia.

The program was funded by the Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund delivered by WHIN in partnership with Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre. Taking a community development approach to business education and financial literacy among CALD communities, the Enterprising Women program aimed to improve and cultivate women’s social and economic choices.

Women involved in Enterprising Women were those who may not have otherwise had opportunities to start small businesses or to participate economically in their communities. Their barriers were not a lack of ability, experience, or skill but, rather, marginalisation as a result of language, gender, ethnic or cultural background, income, education, immigration status, unemployment, or a combination of these factors.

The program ultimately aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of women from CALD communities by enhancing their confidence, skills and choices around economic security.

The program comprised two key components: business education and financial literacy education.