By Jed Lanyon
Cire Services has been recognised as a Victorian Learn Local Legend on Friday 23 August.
The Victorian Learn Local Awards recognise the inspirational efforts of learners, practitioners and training providers in the Learn Local education and training network.
Cire’s Women’s Warehouse Essentials program and founder Nina Bekker were both finalists for Learn Local Awards.
Ms Bekker was responsible for the implementation of the program and she shared how the program between Cire and Employment Plus had evolved.
“There was a lot going on in these women’s lives on top of the fact that they were unemployed.
“The reason they were at Employment Plus was because they were unemployed. But it’s really hard to get yourself to a job interview when in three weeks you’re going to be evicted from your house.
“We were building that relationship and rapport with women, where they were telling us these things.
“So we were able then to refer them to other services to help stabilise whatever was going on, whether if it was domestic violence or financial budgeting or food care packages.
“It’s all about building up a woman’s self-confidence communication and teamwork. It’s some of the things you need when you’re actually in a job.”
Ms Bekker said that some women were buying Christmas hampers in the lead up to the holidays believing they were a cheaper alternative to pay off during the year.
“We did a couple sessions asking whether that is actually good value. And found that it’s not… you’d be better off putting $5 away and then to go shopping to grab what you actually want or need.
Ms Bekker described the program as a gathering of people supported by Cire that goes in the direction of the needs of the women involved.
“It’s really driven by the women, and we try to facilitate and support that.
The program has led to the concept of First Impressions, a shop in Mooroolbark that allows women to buy or rent clothing for a job interview or other important occasion.
First Impressions is run by members of the Women’s Warehouse project and will open on Wednesday 4 September in Brice Avenue, Mooroolbark.
Ms Bekker said that it was fantastic to see some of the original members of the program now mentoring new women joining Women’s Warehouse Essentials and that she would love to see the program duplicated across the state.
Women’s Warehouse Essentials operates at Employment Plus locations in Healesville and Mooroolbark.
For more information about Employment Plus and their locations, visit: https://www.employmentplus.com.au/
