Dress for Success Factsheet
Support and assistance for women who are looking for a way into work. You can access the programme through a Transition to Work Grant.
What is Dress for Success?
Dress for Success is a worldwide organisation that helps women find economic independence by providing professional work clothing, career development tools and an ongoing support network. Here in New Zealand, it's currently available through Work and Income in Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.
What Dress for Success can provide and what you can expect
Once accessed through a Transition to Work Grant, Dress for Success can offer three specialised
programmes:
The Dressing programme
The dressing programme provides professional work clothing for women for job interviews and another outfit prior to starting permanent work. A selection of current fashions is available, generally in sizes 8 to 28, along with shoes, accessories, handbags and make-up. Dress for Success can also provide toiletries, nail polish and other personal items.
All clothing and accessories are new or in pristine near-new condition. Often they are from high-end fashion labels.
Career Centre
Through their Career Centre, Dress for Success supports and advises women who are not in work yet. This can vary from internet access through to one-on-one assistance.
Professional Women's Group
With Dress for Success, ‘professional' is another name for any woman in employment. They host a support network for women who have just returned to the workforce, including holding regular meetings and promoting peer support networks.
Note: not all three programmes are available in all locations. Check with Work and Income for details.
How you join the Dress for Success programme
Women who are looking for work of 30 hours or more per week (20 hours for single parents) and are eligible for a Transition to Work Grant can ask Work and Income to be referred to the Dress for Success programme. Grants don't need to be repaid.
