The Women’s Leadership and Development Program (WLDP) is being boosted with extra funding as part of the national COVID-19 response.
Four successful grant recipients are to receive a portion of the $1.8 million funding this financial year (2019-20) to deliver on projects targeted towards achieving women’s economic security, and supporting women during the pandemic.
Among the grants, Beam Australia involves the development of a flexible work toolkit comprising a range of resources to assist with supporting flexible work arrangements.
First Nations Foundation targets financial literacy training and financial wellbeing support for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women.
Inspiring Rare Birds delivers a mentorship program to support women in business facing challenges due to COVID-19 across rural and remote, culturally and linguistically diverse, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and disability sectors.
Local Government Professionals Australia supports women working in Local Government through virtual networking, online peer support, resource sharing and research into the roles of women through COVID-19 and beyond.
In a statement, the WLDP said many women had been on the frontlines throughout the pandemic, making up the majority of employees in essential services like health care and education.
“This funding will allow more women across Australia to develop new skills to support our part-time and casual workforce and ultimately accelerate our overall recovery,” the WLDP said.
It said funding had also been extended to the six National Women’s Alliances, representing the voices of almost 120 women’s organisations, in particular marginalised and disadvantaged groups, to respond to the challenges of COVID-19.
