Reskilling domestic violence survivors for tech roles boosts GDP

Humans of Purpose has unveiled a blueprint that proposes addressing Australia's technology sector skills shortage by reskilling survivors of domestic violence for high-growth digital careers.

According to a new insight paper from Humans of Purpose, the organisation is targeting the increasing demand for workers in fields such as digital marketing, cyber security, artificial intelligence, and data analytics by preparing women who have experienced domestic and family violence for these roles.

Melanie Greblo, Founder of Humans of Purpose, explained that her own experience with domestic violence and balancing professional obligations with legal challenges inspired the initiative.

"We believe the reskilling of women into the high-demand technology sector could be one of the greatest economic opportunities of our generation – particularly including those who have survived domestic and family violence," said Ms Greblo.

Research cited by Humans of Purpose from RMIT and Deloitte calculates that if 137,300 women were reskilled into technology roles, there could be up to AUD $4.3 billion in collective wage gains for women and AUD $6.5 billion in annual economic benefit for Australian businesses. The report estimates that as many as 661,300 women could transition into technology roles with the appropriate training.

Ms Greblo highlighted that remote and flexible work options enabled by tech industry roles are essential for many survivors. "One of the benefits of the tech industry is the ability to have flexibility and remote work options which can be a life saver for women who have fled an abusive partner and often face multiple and complex challenges to attending a physical workplace," she said.

The organisation's not-for-profit Academy and Agency have operated a virtual hub supporting more than 250 women so far. These participants receive a combination of digital skills training, career mentoring, and personal development coaching tailored for survivors of domestic and family violence.

Women who have completed six months of training and a paid placement through Humans of Purpose have seen, on average, a 30% increase in their incomes. This equates to more than AUD $600 extra a fortnight.

Ms Greblo described the program's approach as both ambitious and practical. "It's an aspirational model but it's working for us. We want these women to have highly skilled and highly paid careers. It's about lifting our gaze and looking beyond what can help them day to day. This is about creating careers they thrive in and long term financial independence," she said.

She also said, "We believe this could be a model for other businesses to help break down the barriers to employment that these women are currently facing."

Statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and supporting research show that one in four women in Australia have experienced physical or sexual violence from a current or former partner. Financial dependency and lack of support are among key reasons many face difficulty leaving such situations.

Ms Greblo emphasised the particular relevance of financial independence now, with recent amendments to the Family Law Act introducing financial repercussions for perpetrators of family violence.

The Humans of Purpose initiative has demonstrated additional effects beyond financial outcomes. Collectively, the program's tracked impacts include 58% of participants reporting improvements in digital skills, 75% increases in job readiness, and reduced welfare reliance per woman by AUD $6,136. Almost two-thirds of participants saw improvements in their overall wellbeing. Statistics shared by the organisation also indicate a 122% reported increase in belonging and a 105% rise in feelings of safety among program graduates.

Ms Greblo identified the wide potential for women's upskilling in digital and technology platforms due to the anticipated role of artificial intelligence in transforming the workforce over the coming decade. She said, "There is huge potential for upskilling and training particularly around digital skills and platforms that they might not have previously used. AI is poised to significantly transform the global labour market over the next decade and by equipping women with these skills we can accelerate them towards well paid careers."

She added, "What we also see as a part of this retraining is a huge uplift in their self esteem and self-confidence as well."

Sarah, a participant in the programme and a mother of three from western Sydney, described her experience. Having fled an abusive relationship, she noted that she never imagined achieving financial independence or securing a well-paid career. Sarah is currently expecting her fourth child and has been retrained in digital technology through the Academy. She cites her employment as vital for supporting her family.

Ms Greblo stated, "Our goal is to eventually have supported 10,000 survivors in returning to work and expand our network of employer partners to provide survivor-friendly workplaces."

Humans of Purpose is seeking AUD $2 million from philanthropists and impact investors to broaden the initiative and support a greater number of women seeking to enter technology sector careers.