Empowering Refugee and Migrant Women Through Skills, Mentoring and Employment

Through ethical fashion, mentoring and practical skills training, The Social Outfit is helping refugee and migrant women overcome barriers to employment and build confidence, community and financial independence. 

Imagine what it would be like to arrive in a new country like Australia but be essentially locked out of gaining work due to systemic issues?

This is the reality of many refugee and migrant women living in Australia, who want a job, have skills and need an income but, due to prevailing language barriers, unfamiliar systems and a lack of workplaces that encourage women with families to work, they can’t find a job.

Enter, The Social Outfit, a non-profit organisation that was created 12 years ago to help refugee and migrant women overcome these obstacles while gaining a wage, independence, confidence and a sense of belonging.

“Our charity creates jobs, training and career pathways for refugee and migrant women in fashion, retail and ethical manufacturing,” says CEO Amy Low. “That pathway extends into placing refugee women into employers through our industry partnerships.”

The organisation provides refugee and migrant women technical training in industrial sewing, retail, customer service, online fulfilment, pattern making and financial literacy, alongside paid employment pathways.

Amy explains the fashion industry was intentionally chosen as an industry that could assist refugee and migrant women, as the language of fashion and retail is universal. Many women also arrive in Australia with sewing skills, garment making experience or familiarity with retail through their home countries and communities. Unlike some industries, fashion and retail can create opportunities that are not highly localised knowledge. “We all understand what it means to make a beautiful garment. When something is more familiar, you can gain a sense of confidence much quicker.”

To-date, the organisation has helped more than 140 women to gain jobs. 

“There’s a real appetite for employment in female refugee and migrant communities. But the employment market has gotten more complex with time.”

Amy recalls how one participant, Hajar, arrived in Australia from Afghanistan in 2024 with limited English and little familiarity with Australian workplace culture. Through The Social Outfit’s retail training program, she developed communication and customer service skills before moving into part time employment while continuing her fashion studies.

Amy says stories like Hajar’s reflect the broader purpose behind the organisation’s work. While practical job skills matter, so too does creating a space where women feel supported as they rebuild confidence and navigate unfamiliar systems.

“Our programs give Hajar and other women like her, the opportunity to speak directly with employers and customers. This isn't a simulation. The mutual trust inherent in the programs builds confidence and belonging.”

Help given during tough times

Despite the great work done by the organisation over the last decade, the barriers facing refugee and migrant women in the Australian workforce remain significant. Online literacy and access to technology has prevented many refugee and migrant women from gaining work, while cost of living pressures have forced many without a wage or skills into hardship. 

“There’s a real appetite for employment in female refugee and migrant communities,” she says. “But the employment market has gotten more complex with time.”

So in December 2025, Equity Trustees, through its Community Grants program, provided The Social Outfit with a $100,000 multi-year community grant to help strengthen employment pathways for refugee and migrant women across Sydney.

The funding is supporting paid work placements, mentoring, vocational training and job readiness programs at a time of growing demand for work, and cost of living increases.

“Securing untied funding across multiple years means that programs can continue. We can focus on delivering the best outcomes for participants.”

Amy believes the funding will help provide 30 women in need with work-ready skills, a regular income and a positive sense of wellbeing associated with work.

“Employment leads to a sense of belonging and improved confidence levels. The women who participate in our programs also develop a bit of optimism about the future.

“They become deeply proud of the work they are doing and proud of who they are. At the end of the day, that really is just so important.”

Find out more about Equity Trustees Philanthropy and Grant Funding

Photo credit: Arvin Prem Kumar