Through our business education programs we help make business possible, offering a one stop-shop for business education and support – designed to meet women where they are at in their entrepreneurial journey.

Financial Pathways Program

The Financial Pathways Program is designed to empower business owners at any stage to better understand and manage their finances. Focusing on clarifying financial goals and crafting a roadmap for sustainable growth, the program covers essential financial terminology, critical financial reports, cash flow management, and future planning. By building familiarity with these tools and strategies, participants gain confidence in setting and achieving financial goals, navigating challenges, and identifying funding options. This program is ideal for those establishing business foundations and seeking to enhance their financial position with intention and clarity.

Volunteers provided coaching and pro bono support to Sisters in 2023-24

$8.4m+

has been transferred in pro bono support to Sisters (cumulative)

Global Sisters connects expert volunteers from corporate partners with our Sisters, providing essential business education and coaching. These partnerships are mutually beneficial, offering companies meaningful, high-impact 1:1 volunteer opportunities while helping them meet their ESG and DEI goals.

This year, we evolved our dedicated Micro Business Coaching Program. This initiative is designed to provide targeted pro bono coaching for early-stage businesses, delivering even greater value both to the women we support and the partner organisations involved.

Through the Micro Business Coaching Program, corporate employees share their expertise with women who are launching new micro-businesses. This program is crucial in helping Sisters overcome early-stage challenges and begin generating income. By matching our Sisters with skilled coaches from trusted corporate partners, we are making business possible for women. In return, our partners gain significant social value and fulfil their commitments to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) goals.

“It was incredibly satisfying to witness someone’s transformative growth and leverage my experience to solidify her path forward. I would highly recommend the program – being a part of a Sister’s entrepreneurial story was a great privilege.”

Flavio (Block)

“The Global Sisters program has been a wonderful and valuable experience. The work with my Sister has been mutually rewarding. I am sure we will continue to support each other’s professional careers well into the future.”

Nathan (Visa)

Global Sisters Marketplace is Australia’s dedicated marketplace supporting women-led micro businesses aligned to do #GOODbusiness. The Marketplace makes it easy for customers to shop ethically, and with purpose, and supports brands which put people and our planet first. And, at the same time, supporting female-founders; helping them own their economic future.

Welfare reform for women’s self employment

Reforming the welfare system to support women’s employment in micro business. Create evidence base for welfare reform via three demonstration projects.

Pro Women Micro Business Policy & Investment

Elevating women’s micro business as a significant part of the SME sector and contributor to employment and economic growth.

Women’s Financial Products & Services Pathway

Creating a pathway to economic security for women through making tailored, affordable and accessible financial products and services available to women in micro business.

Access to home ownership for women

Pilot: Access to home ownership via affordable housing and accessible finance designed for solo, low-income women. Micro community model with two single mother, and one older woman household on one block with small houses and individual land titles.

Women with disabilities face barriers that limit their access to disability payments and full-time work. According to the Australian Institute’s 2022 report, one in six Australians have a disability, with nearly half of working-age people with disabilities not in the workforce.

Thanks to a USD $500,000 (AUD $736,579) grant from Google.org, Global Sisters launched a three-year pilot program to support financial independence for 100 women with disabilities and their carers. This initiative will create flexible, sustainable jobs, helping women start and grow micro businesses.

We also launched a groundbreaking program to support solo mums who are receiving government payments (Parenting Payment Single). This initiative provides three years of free, tailored business support to help them thrive in business and move towards financial independence. The program is designed to empower solo mums, who face barriers to employment, by enabling them to create flexible, sustainable income through self-employment.

With the backing of partners, Global Sisters will develop an evidence base to drive permanent systems change, ensuring more women across Australia can access self-employment opportunities.

23 Women, 23 Stories. Future Changing Conversations. 2023 marked 10 years since Global Sisters was established, and in that time, Global Sisters supported more than 5,500 women on pathways to economic participation and self employment and also worked to create shifts in systems of gender inequality which have devastating impacts on the lives of Australian women and their children. Along the Global Sisters journey, there has evolved a community of strong, passionate and courageous women lifting each other up. As a mark of progress, through GRIT, Global Sisters gave 23 Sisters a platform for their voices and stories to be heard, as they advocate for change based on their lived experiences.

GRIT is a stunning compilation of personal stories – they are extraordinary, powerful, raw and true. These are the stories we never normally hear, yet they are probably the stories we need to hear most in order to create a society in which we all can thrive. GRIT was shared with leaders across Australia, ensuring these stories could inspire change, and celebrated at a launch event in Sydney.

Every brand evolves throughout its journey. This year, we proudly unveiled a refreshed brand identity that truly reflects our bold and unwavering mission to accelerate women’s economic security while celebrating the vibrant spirit of our community. A huge thanks to the team at Apparent and our talented designer, Kirsty Ainsworth, for bringing our vision to life.

This year, we were excited to introduce the new Sister Portal – a personalised and enhanced learning platform for our Sisters. The portal enables Sisters to effortlessly explore programs and events, connect with fellow Sisters, and access a wealth of resources available on demand through the Knowledge Centre. This tailored learning experience empowers our Sisters to continuously engage with the business topics that matter most to them.

Thank you to the Apparent team for partnering with us to create this incredible learning space and for helping us bring our new brand to life.

Kip&Co partner with Global Sisters to give Fashion & Textiles Sister Businesses a boost

This year we launched a brand-new partnership with Kip&Co, a proudly female-founded company inspired by our mission. Together, we launched an exclusive coaching program designed specifically for our community. A phenomenal three month tailored coaching program was customised and delivered by Kip&Co experts across their entire team, plus marketing exposure through their channels. Four of our Sisters were selected to take part, with the program wrapping up in November this year.

When the theme for International Women’s Day 2024, “Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress” was revealed, we knew our team and community had a crucial role to play. Under the theme, our campaign delved into the essence of our mission at Global Sisters. We shared the facts and stats and highlighted the journeys of 23 extraordinary Sisters, who fearlessly shared their stories and triumphs over adversity. Each of their stories embodies courage, resilience, and the unwavering spirit of determination. Read all about the impact of our community in championing for women’s economic security.

The 2023/24 financial year has seen Global Sisters continue to grow and strengthen our relationships with corporate, philanthropic and government partners. 2023/24 was the second year of a 4-year funding agreement under the Federal Government’s Women’s Leadership and Development Program. This project focuses on women who experience intersectional barriers to economic participation and supports them on a pathway to self-employment. This financial year, we also received funding from a mix of corporate, philanthropic and government partners (NSW Government, AMP Foundation and the Paul Ramsay Foundation) to fund a 3 year demonstration project to support Solo mums. The project aims to create a means of economic participation and pathway for long term economic security for solo mothers.

In addition to these multi-year funding agreements we continue to receive ongoing support from both new and long-term partners, all committed to accelerating women’s economic security.

The majority of our expenditure has once again been incurred on programs directly supporting our Sisters as well as our Systems Change interventions which are aimed at sustaining and leveraging business income to change women’s long-term economic security.

We are committed to keeping our infrastructure costs as low as possible and we thank our partners who provide services at pro bono or discounted rates for helping us to achieve this objective.