Engaging the Funding and Grants Collective to assist the team with our Building Women’s Careers Program grant application was one of our best decisions. With just one week before the submission deadline, Christine, the Director, immediately integrated into our team and provided invaluable expertise.
Christine helped us refine our project plan, clarify budget inclusions and exclusions, and guide us through the entire grant process. Her ability to translate our vision into ‘Government speak’ was remarkable—she identified additional government strategies and policies that aligned with our project beyond those we typically reference.
What impressed me most was Christine’s ability to identify opportunities for collaboration. She already had a strong relationship with Coast and Country Primary Care, which had recently relocated to our complex. Recognising the synergies between our organisations, she suggested exploring a partnership, which made perfect sense. Christine then coordinated a meeting and secured a letter of support and commitment to our program within the same day. This significantly strengthened our application and enhanced the referral services available to our clients.
Having an external perspective with Christine’s expertise helped us develop a high-quality submission that was ultimately successful. We secured $1 million in funding for ManufactHER, our initiative to increase women’s participation and leadership in manufacturing. This groundbreaking program will implement inclusive recruitment and flexible employment models, provide leadership training and career pathways, and help businesses embed gender-inclusive policies.
With women comprising just 29% of the manufacturing workforce, this initiative will create new opportunities and establish the foundation for a more diverse and innovative industry. We couldn’t have achieved this without the Funding and Grants Collective’s expertise and partnership approach.