Our impact

Making work fairer for everyone

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Our track record

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Women supported to become job-ready, return to work and thrive.

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Women advancing their careers through training and networks

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Men completed our inclusive leadership and bias training

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Employers partnered with us to build fair, inclusive workplaces

Our theory of change

Closing the gender participation and pay gaps is a complex challenge, with no single solution. That’s why FW tackles it from every angle. We bring together women in every stage of the career spectrum with employers, allies and government as part of one connected ecosystem.

 

On the supply side, FW supports women’s job readiness through pre-employment support, and their ongoing professional development by building capability, networks and motivation. On the demand side, FW works with employers and government to disrupt structural biases and promote the benefits of gender equality for workplace and national productivity.

 

Combined, we are addressing the root causes of inequity and bridging the gap between women’s economic potential and participation.

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Future Women – Theory of Change
Women
Employers
Government & Partners
Our goal
Gender equal workforce participation and economic security

Women participate in the workforce and in leadership at the same rate as men across all industries and are economically secure.

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Outcomes
Women build job readiness and start new employment + training.
Women advance their careers and take on new leadership roles.
Employers build fairer, more inclusive and productive workplaces and talent pipelines.
The employment sector understands what works for women and delivers evidence-based programs and policies.
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What we do
Pre-employment services
Memberships for training, resources and networks
Strategies, plans & recruitment pathways
Training and professional development
Content and events
Sector collaboration
Advocacy and dialogue
Research and evaluation
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Who we work with
Women looking for paid work
Women building careers
Employers committed to building fair and inclusive workplaces
Government and partners providing support, funding, and resources.
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The problem
Individual barriers Confidence, clarity and connections to enter work and build careers.
Workplace barriers Bias and discrimination, care penalties, and a lack of flexible work.
Policy barriers Gender segregated workforces, labour and skills shortages, limited childcare and parental leave.
Women experience worse workforce participation and economic security than men.

Women are underrepresented in secure, full-time work and leadership positions, with lower average incomes and superannuations over a lifetime.

Our reports and submissions

We share our insights and learnings to build the evidence base of what works, drive the national conversation and shift policy settings.

Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Economic Reform Roundtable

Download

Building an inclusive construction sector: Outcomes Summary

Download

Submission to the Voluntary Parent Support Service consultation

Download

Submission to the Jobs and Skills Australia 2026-27 Work Plan public consultation

Download

Our certifications

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B-Corp

FW became a Certified B Corporation in 2024, one of around 750 businesses in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to hold this distinction.

B-Corp certification is awarded to businesses that meet rigorous, independently verified standards of social and environmental performance. The "B" stands for benefit, and this benefit must demonstrably extend beyond owners or shareholders. FW’s certification reflects the broader value we create for members, partners, employees, and communities.

To become a B-Corp, companies undertake a comprehensive audit of how they operate across the categories of governance, workers, community, and environment, and are required to score above an agreed threshold. The process is rigorous, independent, transparent, and repeated every three years.

B-Corp certification is a validation of the standards FW has always held itself to - and a commitment to keep raising them. We’re proud that our score sits well above the median for businesses that complete the assessment. FW takes its obligations to women, employers and the community seriously, and is proud to be making work fairer for everyone.

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Reconciliation action plan

Since launching in 2018, FW has taken an intersectional approach, centering the voices and experiences of women who face systemic, structural barriers at work in order to create safe, more respectful and equitable workplaces for everyone.

We are committed to addressing the systemic barriers to employment that have limited First Nations women’s participation, progression, security and wellbeing over generations. FW is actively building dedicated employment and training pathways for First Nations women, and championing cultural safety, respect and belonging for all First Nations people in the workplace.

In 2024, FW formalised our longstanding commitment to reconciliation with the development of an inaugural Reflect RAP. In 2026, we have transitioned to an Innovate RAP, which focuses on:

  • expanding our stakeholder relationships and partnerships
  • deepening our cultural knowledge, policies and processes 
  • embedding lived experience in program design and delivery
  • educating and advocating across our spheres of influence
  • driving employment outcomes and professional development opportunities.

 

Artwork by Alysha Menzel

Stay tuned

Stay up to date with our events, programs and the latest in gender news.