How partnership suits charity’s aim to help job seekers
26 October 2020
5
min read
It’s not only businesses that have been forced to pivot and innovate due to the coronavirus health emergency. So have many charities.
The ability of many charities to deliver services and raise funds has been impacted by the physical distancing measures needed to control the spread of COVID-19.1
As a result, managing money and finding innovative new ways to operate has been important to continue operating under COVID-19 conditions.
QSuper is committed to working with the wider community through meaningful active partnerships.
Suited to success
Suited to Success is one of QSuper’s charity partners that has felt the COVID-19 impact acutely.
Suited to Success is a not-for-profit community organisation that helps people overcome barriers to employment. The charity receives referrals from a large range of community service organisations, including those who support people experiencing domestic and family violence.
Suited to Success manages the Dress for Success Brisbane women's program (Anne, below, was a participant).
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Suited to Success supported job seekers through virtual services, however commenced a staged reopening of face-to-face services in August 2020.
Partnering to provide support
By providing support and guidance to Suited to Success, QSuper helped the organisation get back to business as it aimed to reopen its styling services, career support services, social enterprise retail store, and office.
QSuper’s Senior Project Manager, Anthony Pizimolas, who worked closely with Suited to Success, said, "No business has been immune to COVID-19. It was a privilege for our team to leverage the skills and expertise acquired in developing QSuper’s COVID Safe Working environment to help Suited To Success get up and running sooner."
We look forward to seeing them thrive during and after these challenging times,” he said.
QSuper also helped Suited to Success create its Workplace Health and Safety guidelines for employees and volunteers returning to the workplace after the shutdown.
For Suited to Success, the assistance meant the chance to recommence revenue streams and services sooner and with greater confidence in a COVID safe work environment.
Suited to Success CEO Tamara Smith said QSuper’s assistance meant the organisation could access expert advice and guidance developing its reopening plans.
“The team understood that our priority was to ‘get back to work’ supporting the community through our face-to-face services – and they helped us make it happen,” Ms Smith said.
1. Media Release, 2 July 2020, State of the Sector, Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, at https://www.acnc.gov.au/media/news/state-sector
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