Sydney startup Scriibed, which offers safe, secure, and flexible digital economy work to women rebuilding their lives following domestic violence, has received backing from the NSW government to help them get into tech.
The Paul Ramsay Foundation also co-investing to Scriibed’s not-for-profit arm, Banksia Academy, with $250,000 as part of a payment-by-outcomes contract.
The government funding comes from the $30 million NSW Social Impact Outcomes fund, launched by the former Coalition government in 2021. will see 150 women survivors of DV upskilled and employed into the social impact business over the next four years. They’ll undertake role-specific digital skills training through Banksia Academy’s Hub – an online platform providing training, education, mentoring, and a program of trauma-informed wrap-around support for women survivors – before beginning employment at Scriibed.
All up, five social enterprises were backed by the fund to support around 650 women. Also receiving funding are Global Sisters, which supports single mothers start their own business; Success Work Partners, which supports women with experience of the justice system gain employment; The Bread and Butter Project, which supports female refugees with training and skills into baking careers; and yourtown, which supports long-term unemployed young women with paid work experience in its social enterprise.
Melanie Greblo founded Scriibed in 2022 as an impact business on a mission to change the trajectory for women facing barriers to employment. She set out to bridge the capacity gap businesses need to grow by combining automation for repetitive tasks with the required human expertise.
“We are incredibly excited and energised by the support of the NSW Government and The Paul Ramsay Foundation that is going to transform the lives of 150 women survivors,” she said.
“In a time where startup financial investment is hard to come by, it’s really encouraging to see the NSW Government back businesses making a difference and innovative impact on society.
“We need to change the trajectory for women survivors and see beyond low-skilled work and a life on the poverty line for vulnerable women, and instead support women into full social and economic participation – that’s our goal at both Scriibed and Banksia Academy.”
The Paul Ramsay Foundation’s head of employment, Josephine Khalil, said the support they’ve provided will help the women achieve achieve financial independence.
“This innovative approach will not only provide the participants opportunities for higher paid and good quality work but will help test an outcomes model as a sustainable way to fund social enterprise to deliver the wrap around support and employment required for women with experiences of violence to have economic dignity and thrive in their careers,” she said.
The program starts with a digital skills bootcamps and connecting women participants with a mentor are high on the agenda
Melanie Greblo said she’s on the hunt for additional corporate, tech or individual partners to support their goals.
“It’s a brilliant way to give back, to boost ESG objectives and to walk your gender equal talk, we’d be delighted to work with some of Australia’s big brands to double down on the impact we can create,” she said.
Contact her via scriibed.com.
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