As part of our celebrations for International Women’s Day on 8 March, Outcare had the honour of hosting Natalie Sangalli, CEO of Dress for Success WA. Her visit brought powerful insight into how far we’ve come in advancing gender equity — and how far we still have to go.
Natalie reminded us that many of the rights and protections women have today are shockingly recent. It wasn’t that long ago that some workplaces required a husband’s signature before a woman could take up employment. Even into the 1990s, society was only just beginning to recognise family and domestic violence as a public health emergency. By 1995, many jurisdictions had introduced mandatory arrest policies, compelling police to treat FDV as a criminal matter requiring intervention.
These reforms may feel distant, but they were within many of our lifetimes — a reminder that social progress, while meaningful, has not been swift.
Today, the median national gender pay gap still sits at 16.4% (source: WGEA), and, at the current trajectory, projections indicate it may not close until 2158. That means the actions we take now — the policies, programs, partnerships and cultural commitments — will directly shape the opportunities available to girls growing up today. The responsibility is real, and so is the opportunity.
Organisations Rooted in Community Need
Outcare has worked with Dress for Success WA over many years, ensuring that the women who engage with our programs — whether through reintegration services, community support, or employment pathways — have access to clothing, styling and confidence‑building support during pivotal transition points in their lives.
Natalie shared the breadth of Dress for Success WA’s offering, including:
- 24 specialist workshops spanning job readiness, financial literacy and confidence-building
- 1‑on‑1 styling and clothing support to help women feel prepared and confident for interviews, court appearances or new roles
- Support for women in prison prior to release, ensuring they step back into the community with dignity and readiness
All at no cost to the women benefitig from the services.
Hearing the depth of support available helped our teams identify new opportunities for collaboration — particularly across our women’s services, employment and training pathways, and the programs supporting the young people in our care.
“Our work with Dress for Success is grounded in shared values — respect and collaboration. The women and young people we support deserve strong, connected systems that work together, not in isolation. Natalie’s visit reinforced just how essential these collaborations are, and how much more we can achieve when organisations unite to improve the lives of those in our community.” – Shona Robertson, Chief Operations Officer, Outcare
“Whilst Dress for Success is a global organisation, our impact is always local. It’s the partnerships with community-focused organisations like Outcare that allow us to make a real difference across regions, including remote and diverse communities. Outcare’s wide reach across Western Australia aligns with our commitment to ensuring every woman, no matter her circumstances or geographical location, has access to the support she deserves.” – Natalie Sangalli, CEO, Dress for Success Western Australia
Natalie’s visit was a powerful reminder of the progress made, the inequities that persist, and the transformative potential of organisations working hand in hand. As we mark International Women’s Day 2026, we reaffirm our commitment to building a more equitable future — one grounded in respect, inclusion and collective action.
International Women’s Day 2026: Give to Gain
This year’s theme, Give to Gain, invites us to embrace generosity and collaboration as tools for progress. It speaks directly to how both Outcare and Dress for Success WA operate: we give our time, expertise, compassion and care, knowing that communities thrive when we lift each other up.
The “give to gain” mindset recognises that the act of supporting others strengthens all of us — individuals, organisations and society.
It’s a perfect alignment with how Outcare works every day: through connection, partnership and shared commitment to positive change.
