Female Ex-Offenders, Discrimination and Work: The Role of the Success Works Initiative

Abstract

This report provides a brief commentary on female ex-offenders and the issues they face regarding employability and discrimination in Australia and overseas. It presents research on the unique initiative Success Works, a program aimed at securing labour market opportunities for women affected by the criminal justice system, either who are currently in prison or already in the community. The Success Works program (SWP) is an innovative pilot initiative of Dress for Success Sydney (DfSS). The SWP, funded by the Ian Potter and Vincent Fairfax Foundations for a duration of three years (2019–2021), has provided essential support services that are tailored to the unique needs of female offenders. Research has indicated that having a criminal conviction negatively influences employment opportunities (NSW Government 2020). This is particularly the case for women who are doubly disadvantaged by their experiences of the criminal justice system and who have limited access to the labour market.