Stepping Stones is a program tailored for women from refugee, migrant and asylum seeking backgrounds and any women over 50. It provides opportunities for women to achieve financial wellbeing through starting a business, finding employment, training pathways, mentoring and support.

Financial wellbeing is key to women’s security and safety

Stepping Stones offers participants the opportunity to learn in an environment which is supportive, gender aware, friendly and actively reduces the barriers that prevent women from mainstream business training. English as an additional language (EAL) is supported.

For more information, get in touch with the team at steppingstones@bsl.org.au

To register for our programs, please click on the ‘apply now’ button below. If you have any questions please contact Linet on 0490 288 058 .

    Mentoring

    We are not currently recruiting for volunteer mentors. If you are interested in future rounds of recruitment, please contact 

    steppingstones@bsl.org.au

    Find out how to become a Stepping Stones mentor .
    Stepping Stones to Small Business graduate presenting her miso product

    Stepping Stones is NOT currently taking applications as our program is full

    Please check back with us in the near future

    What our participants say

    The most important thing I learned from the program was to believe in myself. I am making my own money, I have financial independence and feel socially connected.

    Giovanna

    One of the things I liked about the program is that they did not push any of us to start a business. They encouraged us to look at other pathways, such as employment and education, depending on our individual circumstances.

    Bahati

    It wasn't easy to get a job in Australia without having any local work experience. Stepping Stones has always supported me ... made me believe and trust myself, and helped me become an independent woman. All my life I will be thankful for how this course has changed me.

    Reema

    Read our Stepping Stones 2021-23 service impact report: Stepping up women’s financial wellbeing

    Financial partners

    The Stepping Stones program is funded by:

    We acknowledge the enormous contributions made by our many volunteer mentors and corporate partners.

      Contact Stepping Stones