2024-25 Return to Work Pathways Program

Applicants must be a legally constituted Australian-based entity from one of these four categories: 

1. Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO).
2. Incorporated, not-for-profit organisations, including community organisations.
3. Social enterprises.
4. NSW Local councils and shires (who must be listed on the Office of Local Government), including regional organisations of councils and consortia of councils. 

• Applicants must be willing to obtain appropriate public liability insurance (minimum of $10 million) if successful.
• Applications must provide a budget outlining proposed funding of eligible expenditure items (per section 2.4.1 of the Guidelines) and excluding ineligible uses of funding (per section 2.4.2 of the Guidelines). A minimum of 10 per cent funding from other sources (monetary or in-kind) must be included.
• An application must be made by a single organisation that will accept responsibility for delivery of the project if the application is successful.
• Applicants must be based within NSW, unless they can demonstrate that the project will be run in and for the benefit of women and/or girls in NSW and that the organisation meets all regulatory, business requirements.
• Projects must be targeted to supporting women into paid employment. Supporting women to achieve self-employment and/or entrepreneurship are outside the scope of the RTWPP.
• Projects must be delivered in the period between July 2025 – 30 June 2027.
• Applicants must apply for funding within the specified amounts of $100,000 to $250,000.

Applications for the 2024-25 RTWPP grants must target and demonstrate outcomes for one of the following cohorts of women:  

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women 
• women with disability  
• carers 
• young women (17-24 years) 
• older women (55 years and over) 
• women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities   
• women living in regional, rural, and remote areas (particularly Far West NSW and North Western NSW) 
• women living in Western Sydney 

The RTWPP program will fund a variety of models and funding will vary according to the proposed model and corresponding extent of services to be provided, in response to priority cohorts’ needs.  

Funding for projects will vary within the range of $100,000 - $250,000 depending on the project model, the number of participants to be supported, and the level and intensity of services and supports provided to participants. 

Projects should provide a model delivering some or all of the following components. A minimum of four service components is required. Supports can include, but are not limited to the following: 

• Tailored wraparound supports - Supported referrals to services, career coaching and guidance, other support activities, and programs to build confidence.  Time-limited support following participant’s employment. 
• Mentoring - Provide mentoring using a suitable mentoring model, this may include peer and volunteer mentoring. 
• Training - Provide appropriate training programs in a variety of formats responding to participants needs.  Supported referral to other training and education options as required. 
• Work readiness - Pre-employment training, work readiness skills training and coaching to build participants' capability and confidence. 
• Pathways to employment - Facilitated employment opportunities using models such as job placement, paid traineeships and other programs that offer established pipelines to employment. 
• Engagement of employers - Partnering with employers to facilitate employment options for participants and for employers to create supportive environments. 

The project should be started by 1 July 2025 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2027.

Funding will not be provided to:

• Individuals or groups of individuals, including sole traders. 
• Unincorporated organisations. 
• For profit commercial organisations and entities. 
• Sub-contractors – either for program management or for project delivery on behalf of non-eligible organisations. 
• NSW Government or Australian Government agencies or their entities (including public trusts). 
• Applicants requesting 100 percent project funding from Women NSW.
• Projects which already receive NSW or Commonwealth Government funding.
• Applicants with outstanding acquittal requirements with Women NSW.
• Applicants with an obligation under the NSW National Redress Scheme who have not joined the Scheme (further information outlined in section 2.3 of the Guidelines).

 Note: NSW Government schools, Local Health Districts and public hospitals are ineligible to apply, however, an associated incorporated not-for-profit body, such as a Parents and Citizens Association or hospital auxiliary will be eligible to apply for funding.

Requirements for Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Organisations

For the purpose of this grant, an eligible Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisation builds the strength and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people, and is:

• Incorporated under relevant legislation.
• Not-for-profit (see further requirements below).
• Controlled and operated by Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander people.
• Connected to the community or communities in which they deliver services.
• Governed by a majority Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander governing body.

Applicants will be required to provide documentation to support their ACCO status such as:

• An Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations certificate of registration.
• A constitution/rule book which shows the organisation requirements.
• Letters or surveys from other local Aboriginal organisations, groups or relevant community stakeholders or outcomes from community feedback.

Requirements for Not for Profits:

Eligible not-for-profit organisations must be registered and approved as a not-for-profit body with a current and up-to-date record in at least one of the following categories:  

1. Charities, trusts, and cooperatives that are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). 
2. Organisations with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. 
3. Organisations with Public Benevolent Institution 
4. Associations (registered under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 and with NSW Fair Trading). 
5. A Local Aboriginal Land Council under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) and registered with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council. 
6. Indigenous Corporations registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations. 

Requirement for Social Enterprises 

To be considered a social enterprise, an organisation must satisfy each of the criteria below:

• be established with a social, cultural or environmental purpose consistent with a public and/or community benefit.
• trade commercially to fulfil their purpose.
• derive a substantial portion of their income from trading commercially.
• reinvest the majority of their surplus in the fulfilment of their purpose.

Social Traders certification or People and Planet First global verification is required as evidence to demonstrate the social enterprise definition is met. Organisations will be required to indicate which certification or verification they will use at the Expression of Interest stage and provide the required evidence at the Full Grant Application stage.