More than 500 Illawarra women have been supported to enter, re-enter and thrive in the workforce over the past year, with Dress for Success Illawarra continuing to empower women through its partnership with Squadron Energy’s Port Kembla Energy Terminal.
Dress for Success provides free styling, career development and employment support services to women preparing for job interviews, starting new roles, returning to work and rebuilding confidence after major life changes.
The organisation has also broadened its community outreach through workshops and presentations delivered alongside employment services, community groups, and local partners.
For the 2025/2026 financial year, Dress for Success Illawarra supported 551 women in the region, exceeding the non-profit’s annual target by 10 per cent.
Support from Squadron Energy’s Port Kembla Energy Terminal is helping make the service more visible and accessible, with funding used to install new signage, banners and branding at the organisation’s Warrawong boutique.
The sponsorship will also enhance volunteer safety by funding professional removalists for major fundraising fashion sales, reducing the need for volunteers to undertake physically demanding manual handling tasks.
Making a real difference in the Illawarra
Dress for Success Illawarra Operations Manager Rachel Dyer said the partnership with Squadron Energy was “making a very real difference to us here in the Illawarra.”
“It helps with the grassroots essentials that keep our service operating, including our rent, new signage and branding, and equipment we need for our fashion sales and to make our service more accessible,” Ms Dyer said.
“These aren’t necessarily the glamorous things, but they are the things that allow us to keep our doors open and provide our services free of charge to women who need them.
“Support of this kind is what makes our work possible, and we’re incredibly grateful that Squadron has chosen to invest in us and the women we support.”
Squadron Energy Port Kembla Energy Terminal Senior Operations Readiness Manager Rita Boyd said the organisation was proud to be partnered with Dress for Success Illawarra and support the vital work it does across the region.
“Dress for Success Illawarra is making a meaningful difference in the lives of women across the region by helping them build confidence, develop new skills and access employment opportunities,” Ms Boyd said.
“We’re proud to support an organisation that is creating real and lasting benefits for the Illawarra community, helping local women build confidence, pursue new opportunities and achieve their employment goals.
“Seeing more than 550 women supported in a single year highlights the significant impact the organisation is having across the Illawarra.”
Dress for Success Illawarra recently held a successful Super Fashion Frenzy fundraiser, which attracted more than 250 shoppers, raised almost $30,000 and donated around 3,000 quality clothing items a second life rather than ending up in landfill.
