Global Sisters exists to make business possible for women who are traditionally excluded from economic opportunities, providing them with the skills, knowledge and networks to achieve long-term economic security.
This report showcases the real, measurable change we’ve created in 2024 – highlighting how we’ve supported women to launch and grow businesses, achieve financial independence, and contribute to thriving communities.
impact snapshot
6869
Participated in Global Sisters since inception
1795
Participated in Global Sisters in 2024
1289
Businesses supported in 2024
960
New Sisters in 2024
Roadmap to economic security
Global Sisters supports women through direct impact (self-employment programs and support) and integrated systems change interventions. We are excited to share last year’s results for milestones up to Milestone 6 of our SIMNA innovation award-winning Impact Roadmap. While these results represent encouraging progress, we acknowledge that it may still be too early to observe the full extent of change.
systems change
Priority 1
Welfare reform for women’s self employment
Reforming the welfare system to support women’s employment in micro business. Create evidence base for welfare reform via three demonstration projects.
Read more here:
Cohort Specific Barriers to Self-Employment
Priority 2
Pro Women Micro Business Policy & Investment
Elevating women’s micro business as a significant part of the SME sector and contributor to employment and economic growth.
N.b: This represents the original Systems Change focus area. In 2025, this area evolved to become Economic Recovery from Violence.
Priority 3
Women’s Financial Products & Services Pathway
Creating a pathway to economic security for women through making tailored, affordable and accessible financial products and services available to women in micro business.
Read more here:
Fixing Finance for Women in Micro Business
Priority 4
Access to home ownership for women
Pilot: Access to home ownership via affordable housing and accessible finance designed for solo, low-income women. Micro community model with two single mother, and one older woman household on one block with small houses and individual land titles.
Read more here:
Little Green Houses pilot
our sisters
*Many Sisters face multiple challenges simultaneously. Intersecting experiences shape their journeys and highlight the importance of tailored, holistic support.
australia-wide
$128 billion
is the value to the Australian economy that can be realised by purposefully removing the persistent and pervasive barriers to women’s full and equal participation in economic activity.
Sam Mostyn AO, Chair of the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce
year in review
global sisters at Apec PERU 2024 “women entrepreneurs in the new economies”
Global Sisters Founder & CEO Mandy Richards and COO Heather Thomson attended APEC 2024 in Peru, thanks to the generous support of Minderoo and a private donor. Mandy presented the Global Sisters model to the APEC economies and shared insights from almost a decade of experience in Australia. We’re honoured to have joined this critical dialogue, thanks to Chantelle Stratford, Chair of APEC’s Global Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy.
Read more about our experience at APEC 2024
homewares industry runway with kip&co
Following on from the success of the MECCA Beauty Runway with Sisters in the beauty industry, Kip & Co have partnered with Global Sisters to provide homewares industry specific support to Sisters.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2024
Global Sisters launched Count Her In — an inspiring campaign advocating for women’s economic empowerment. Leading up to IWD2024, we shared 24 powerful Sister stories that shed light on the critical challenges faced by Australian women.
Read our Founder & CEO Mandy Richards’ article on Women’s Agenda
CITi FOUNDATION’S 2024 GLOBAL HOUSING INNOVATION CHALLENGE
Citi Foundation is supporting the development of a scalable, affordable housing ownership model for low-income women in Australia, particularly single mothers, domestic violence survivors, and older women, with a grant of US$500,000. Global Sisters is the sole Australian organisation in this initiative, launching the Little Green Houses pilot project as part of our Systems Change priority – Access to home ownership for women.
Read more about our Little Green Houses pilot
sister pitch 2024
Sister Pitch 2024 exceeded its $1M goal, supporting 12 remarkable women who showcased their businesses. Special thanks to dentsu, MC Lisa Keenan, guest entrepreneur Radek Sali, and co-chair Nicky Sparshott for their contributions to the event.
Read more about the results of Sister Pitch
Place-based Project in Geelong (VIC) with Domestic and Family Violence Survivors
Judith Neilson Foundation is funding a 3-year place-based demo project with women seeking safety and economic recovery from violence. Global Sisters will be working collaboratively with McAuley House and their landmark Safe at Home pilot in greater Geelong (VIC). Together, we can address the continuum of support needed for women to be safe and recover from violence.
Our sisters
Sisters are the brilliant women who make up the Global Sisters community. Often facing unemployment, underemployment, or low income due to personal and structural barriers, they turn to Global Sisters to pursue financial independence and economic participation through self-employment in micro business.
They are resilient, intelligent, socially conscious, and driven by a vision to not only grow their businesses but also create positive societal change.
They include solo mothers, older women, First Nations women, migrants, refugees, women with disabilities, and those living in regional or remote areas. When provided with the confidence, skills, connections, and support they’ve often been denied, these women thrive – building businesses, uplifting their communities, and driving progress towards amore equal and inclusive economy.
6869
Sisters have participated in Global Sisters since its inception
1795
Participated in Global Sisters in 2024
960
New Sisters in 2024
NEW SISTERS 2024
*Many Sisters face multiple challenges simultaneously. Intersecting experiences shape their journeys and highlight the importance of tailored, holistic support.
where are our NEW SISTERS?
The Sisters are located all across Australia, in every single State and Territory.
our sisters businesses
1289
businesses were supported by Global Sisters in 2024, 571 of which are from Sisters who joined last year
1 IN 3
businesses has progressed on business stage throughout 2024*
self-employment / micro business industries:
- Fashion, Jewellery & Textiles
- Health, Wellness & Fitness
- Professional Coaching Services & Education
- Home & Living
- Food & Beverage
- Beauty
- Digital Products & Services
- Entertainment, Tourism & Hospitality
*Longitudinal data indicates that after Sister School it takes between 3-12 months for women to start generating an income (LAUNCH or START-UP phase).
impact 2024
roadmap to economic security
Global Sisters’ purpose is to remove barriers to women’s economic security, and we do that through direct impact (self-employment programs and support) and integrated systems change interventions. In 2024, we enhanced our impact measurement system to collect the most important change data over time through a brand new 10-question quarterly survey that started in April 2024.
We are excited to share early results for milestones up to Milestone 6 of our Impact Roadmap. While these results represent encouraging progress, we acknowledge that it may still be too early to observe the full extent of change.
We are committed to collecting the most valuable and meaningful data to understand and demonstrate transformation. We hold ourselves to the highest standards in measuring outcomes and are focused on continually improving how we track and report on the milestones leading to women’s economic security.
women’s economic participation
Self-confidence, fear of failure, limited business know-how, insufficient access to business finance, and isolation are some of the most common barriers to economic participation identified by women who join Global Sisters – personal situations like solo motherhood, disabilities, or lived experiences of domestic violence exacerbate these.
Last year, Global Sisters removed these barriers, making self-employment a viable option by offering accessible resources and building support networks. This empowered women to overcome self-doubt, build sustainable businesses, and take control of their economic futures, demonstrating the transformation that occurs when you #BackHerBrilliance.
“Unlocking the full potential of the nation relies on dismantling all, or at least most of the barriers that hinder women’s economic participation – and resolving them so that economic security can be a tangible reality for Australian women irrespective of their current reality.”
Mandy Richards, Founder and CEO of Global Sisters
673
Sisters participated in My Big Idea program in 2024
After completing My Big Idea:
all sisters
said it helped them to decide how they would generate an income.
9 in 10 sisters
Who chose self-employment mentioned that My Big Idea helped them develop their business idea.
Felt more confident to chose between employment, self-employment, or a mix of both.
case study
MEET LUCILLE
DFV Survivor | Solo Mum
Lucille, a solo mum needing flexibility to support her family, wanted to create a sustainable business that aligned with her skills and passion for women’s wellness. Global Sisters provided the guidance, resources, and community she needed to overcome barriers and grow her business with confidence.
Read Lucille’s inspiring progress
Systems
change
update
Cohort Specific Barriers to Self-employment
A research paper prepared for APEC 2024 that seeks to identify unique personal and systemic barriers for segmented Global Sisters priority cohorts, such as solo mothers, older women and domestic and family violence survivors. Read the full paper here.
women’s self-employment
In Australia, challenges like marketing, customer acquisition, finance, competition, and technology can limit our Sisters’ capacity to generate revenue through their businesses.
Despite this, in 2024, Global Sisters has empowered hundreds of women to stand tall as business owners for the first time in their lives, to launch businesses and to start generating or increasing revenue. This work highlights the transformative power of self-employment in addressing gendered economic inequality.
“Being part of Global Sisters has really elevated the possibility for me to succeed with my business. I’m working to establish ongoing income generating channels through a mix of course offering, editorial consulting, podcast producing commissioned programs and raising investment. I truly thank everyone involved with Global Sisters for their vision of financial independence for women, especially the sense of inclusivity for over 50, neuro-diverse and culturally diverse women.”
Jodi
632
Sisters participated in Sister School in 2024
After completing Sister School:
all sisters
increased their confidence in their ability to make business decisions.
1 in 3 sisters
has increased her business revenue, showing our Sisters are making more and larger sales.
case study
meet elaine
First Nations | Solo Mum
Elaine, a First Nations solo mum born in Papua New Guinea, created a successful mobile consulting business with Global Sisters, allowing her to work while travelling with her kids across the country.
Read Elaine's remarkable story
Systems
change
update
Decadal Plan 2023-2024
As a key contributor to the newly launched Decadal Plan 2023-2024, Global Sisters helped shape three critical recommendations to elevate women-led micro businesses — recognising their unique needs and contributions. Our report, The Future of Women’s Micro Businesses & Self-Employment in Australia played a pivotal role in shaping the Decadal Plan’s vision.
Women’s Financial pathways
Global Sisters continued to help women leverage self-employment income for long-term economic security in 2024.
By providing access to relevant and accessible financial information, affordable financial services, including loans and business insurance through a partnership with Imalia, our Sisters gained the knowledge and the tools to grow their businesses and strengthen their financial independence.
“I have struggled for two years with finances and surviving in my start up business. I have always tried my best to understand it but it has felt overwhelming and too big of a task. Since the 1:1 Financial Support with AMP I feel ready to become a Financial Champion in all areas of my business. My coach helped by listening, understanding what I was feeling, and providing solutions to my specific problem.”
Hayley
66
Sisters completed Financial Pathways in 2024
16
Sisters completed AMP Business Financials Coaching in 2024.
71
Business Microloan applications were submitted with Global Sisters.
A breakthrough in financial access for Sisters, given that 80% had never previously inquired about or applied for any business credit. Many lacked confidence in presenting their business needs and financials, believing they wouldn’t be considered eligible or approved.
6 in 10 sisters
purchased a Business Insurance Policy with Imalia Insurance after completing Financial Pathways.
“Imalia was the first insurance company to offer my business a policy. There was no messing around, both sides asked Qs. Once answers were sorted an affordable policy was offered to read over before accepting or declining. They are more approachable than the BIG known companies.”
Rosemarie
After completing the Financial Pathways Program:
9 in 10 sisters
Improved their understanding of financial reports.
Became better at identifying key challenges.
Improved their ability to manage cash flow, leading to more informed decisions on working capital.
case study
meet natasha
Solo Mum | Mental Health & Chronic Health Conditions
Natasha has built a semi-sustainable income with her consultancy, Practice Inclusion. With improved financial confidence, she is now exploring ways to diversify and grow her passive income streams.
Watch Natasha's brilliant journey
Systems
change
update
Fixing finance for Women in Micro Business
This research, under Global Sisters brand new’ Financial Pathways Program, explored female founders’ attitudes and financial behaviours, their access to and affordability of business-specific financial products, perceptions of product suitability for their business stage and type, and their overall user experience. Read it here.
Women’s Financial Independence
Last year, Global Sisters supported women in achieving greater financial independence. While most aim for sustainable income, the welfare system often creates barriers for women pursuing self-employment. By prioritising job-seeking over own business growth, it penalises women for earning business income, putting their economic security at risk before their businesses become profitable.
1 in 3 sisters
that started the year on government income support reduced or eliminated their welfare dependency in 2024
Data shows that in the March quarter of 2024, Australia’s social benefits increased by 7.8% ($3.3 billion), and by 16% ($6.3 billion) over the year, indicating a rise in welfare support.
1 in 4 sisters
has increased their ability to access their own emergency savings during 2024 – up to $2000
Sisters are outperforming national averages, as many Australians continue to struggle with covering emergency expenses. Recent research reveals that only 45% of Australians can cover an unexpected $1,000 expense with their savings, while 28% of our Sisters can cover a $2,000 emergency – a figure that has been steadily increasing.
“I thought I’d enroll in Government’s new enterprise program but when I looked into the fine print, I thought ‘This is stupid.’ They give us 9 months and then kick us off the system. I’m sorry, I still have children, I have to put food on the table. So I picked another strategy. I’ll study and get another qualification. And then I plan to get off that system altogether, have part-time work and grow my business. It might take me longer to build my business this way but I’ll be off the system for longer too.”
Katie
case study
meet suzy
Over 50 | Solo Mum | Living in a Regional Community
Suzy, a solo mum of three boys, went from living in poverty to reducing her reliance on government income support through her growing psychotherapy business.
Read Suzy's inspiring case study
economic value creation
Global Sisters continued to drive economic value creation by empowering women to build their own businesses and contribute to local economies in 2024. While growth and expansion aren’t always the goals for all Sisters — the majority seeks to generate just enough income to support themselves and their families — many have expanded their impact by creating job opportunities and outsourcing work, showcasing the ripple effect of supporting women entrepreneurs in Australia.
1 in 6 sisters
has hired one or more positions for their business in 2024 – casual, part-time and/or full-time
310 – 580 hours
of work was also outsourced by our Sisters for their businesses in 2024
In Australia, micro businesses have been identified as the fastest-growing sector of the small-business community, having increased in size by 14% over the past 4 years to 2.28 million businesses and employing 2.9 million people.
“It means a lot that 100% of the people we’re hiring are from the same background as me – migrant women from Vietnam. That’s something I’m really proud of. In the past two years, we’ve not only kept the business running but also created an impact in these women’s lives.”
Cyana
case study
meet chandrika
Hearing & Physical Disability | Migrant
Chandrika has grown her pakora business to the point where she now hires staff to support her thriving market stall, easing the physical demands of busy days.
Watch Chandrika's business journey
home ownership for women
As Australia faces an affordable housing crisis, it is leaving low-income women — especially single mothers and domestic violence survivors — locked out of the rental market and home ownership. Traditional social housing provides temporary relief but fails to break cycles of poverty and dependency.
Global Sisters is changing this with the ‘Little Green Houses’ pilot—a groundbreaking initiative offering energy-efficient modular homes through low-interest mortgages. This program, designed for women at risk of homelessness, will help put homes, assets and security into the hands of those who need them most, and provide a foundation for long-term economic security that can be passed onto future generations.
We’re proud to be the sole Australian recipients of the Citi Foundation’s 2024 Global Innovation Challenge! With the Citi Foundation’s backing, we’re now looking to partner with governments, corporates, philanthropists, and communities to launch this groundbreaking solution and drive real impact.
We are excited about the future of this initiative and can’t wait to keep reporting on the progress of the ‘Little Green Houses’ pilot throughout 2025.
Join us in transforming lives. Be part of the solution and help women create lasting economic security.
Find out more
