At Outcare, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to feel confident, capable and excited about their future. Through our ongoing partnership with Dress for Success WA, we are working together to empower the young women involved in our programs to build their confidence, learn new skills, and become employment ready.
As part of this collaboration, young women from our Bright Futures Youth Residential program were invited to participate in a two-part workshop series delivered by Dress for Success WA. The workshops provided a supportive, engaging, and participant-led environment where young people could identify their strengths, connect with others, and begin thinking about the opportunities that lie ahead.
Building Confidence for the Future
Day one focused on the recruitment journey, helping participants understand what to expect when applying for jobs and attending interviews. Through open conversations and practical advice, young people were encouraged to ask questions, find their voice and recognise their own strengths. The workshop also provided an opportunity to explore future aspirations, interests and career pathways, helping participants begin to imagine what is possible as they move into adulthood.
Growth, Self-Expression and Stronger Futures
Day two shifted the focus to self-care, wellbeing and self-expression through make-up and skin care. Guided by a professional makeup artist, participants explored new skills, experimented with different techniques and discovered how makeup can help build confidence and self-esteem. The interactive and participant-led environment encouraged young people to engage at their own pace, try something new, and support one another and have a few laughs along the way. We even identified a future make-up artist in the making!
“The young women involved were initially shy and reserved but the Dress For Success team and the Outcare staff created a space safe enough for them to step out of their comfort zone and give new things a go. That was one of the most rewarding parts. Watching our young women connect with and support each other to learn new skills and express themselves confidently showed that these workshops are about much more than the activities themselves. They’re about helping our young women feel heard, valued, and capable of creating the future that they can be proud of”
– Rhiannon Ingoe, Youth Education & Pathways Mentor, Outcare
One of the most rewarding outcomes was seeing the growth in confidence across the two sessions. Young women who arrived feeling shy and reserved returned more engaged, comfortable and willing to step outside their comfort zones. The room was filled with laughter, conversation and encouragement as participants practised their new skills and celebrated each other’s successes. By the end of the series, many were already asking when the next workshop would be held.
These workshops are part of Outcare’s ongoing partnership with Dress for Success WA, which supports women and young people across our programs with opportunities to build confidence, develop practical life skills and access pathways towards greater independence, opportunity and a stronger future.
