ABOUT CALD Women in Relational Entrepreneurship

AfriAus iLEAC with its LUVPACKS Partners supports The Victorian Government’s commitment to gender equality and seeking to enhance economic security for women in priority cohorts, including CALD women. Safe and Strong: A Victorian Gender Equality Strategy acknowledges the importance of supporting economic participation for CALD women through education, employment opportunities and investment, which are key drivers to improving workforce participation.

Many recently arrived migrant young women have unmet business education needs, which the program aims to address. Research undertaken by AfriAus iLEAC found that more than 80 per cent of their women beneficiaries are unemployed, with large families and unpaid caring responsibilities, yet have the capacity to run small businesses. Some have experience and skills from overseas which need support to re-orientate to the Australian context.

The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Women in Relational Entrepreneurship (CWIRE) Project will help to fill a clear need in the Victorian African community, building on AfriAus iLEAC’s knowledge of this cohort to support women recovering from adversity (including COVID-19 pandemic, family violence in some instances) to build financial security.