Clothing drive to support women in their journey into work

Issue date 27 June 2024

On Tuesday 25 June, the Ministry partnered with Dress for Success to hold a clothing donation drive at Parliament.

Dress for Success support women in their journey into work by providing and styling preloved donated clothing to create work-ready outfits. They also provide career coaching, mentoring, workshops, and work experience opportunities.

Dress for Success is supported by hardworking volunteers who assist women in their community gain life and work skills.

In the past year, Dress for Success have supported over 3,000 women build confidence, learn valuable life skills, and work towards gaining employment.

Clothes were donated from MPs, public service Chief Executives and staff, and will be available in Dress for Success' Wellington store.

Ministry for Women Chief Executive Kellie Coombes, Acting Minister for Women Louise Upston, and Dress for Success Board Deputy Chair Denise MacKay spoke at the event about empowering women and ensuring women have equal opportunities.

Attendees were able to look through the available clothes, network, and share kōrero on their experiences getting into work.

Supporting women into employment to enable them to become economically independent can generate lifetime and intergenerational benefits for women, their children and whānau, and communities.

Visit www.yesforsuccess.org.nz to find out more about the organisation and how to donate.

Donated outfits hang on a clothes rack at the Dress for Success event, Parliament, 25 June 2024.

Acting Minister for Women, Hon Louise Upston, speaks to attendees at the Dress for Success event.

Dress for Success Deputy Board Chair, Denise Mackay, speaks to the crowd at the Dress for Success event about some of the success stories of women gaining employment after working with the organisation.

Two women look through the donated clothes at the Dress for Success event.

All of the amazing attendees of the Dress for Success event!