A new program is helping business and law students step into employment.

Job opportunities for Deakin business and law students who may be experiencing disadvantage will be enhanced thanks to a pilot program that provides curated business clothing and accessories.

Working with Deakin’s Diversity and Inclusion Division, the Faculty of Business and Law’s Student Experience team has partnered with non-profit organisation Dress for Success Mornington Peninsula to help Indigenous students from regional or remote areas prepare for internships and post-study careers.

Dress for Success is a registered not-for-profit organisation that offers a free dressing and support service to help empower women as they seek employment. It provides women with outfits and accessories as well as coaching and advice on interview skill techniques and workshops to help build personal and work-related skills.

Three regionally-based Deakin students have already received free-of-charge business attire packages from Dress for Success while more are in the process of being delivered. 

The organisation is also working with Deakin’s team for an on-campus event in that will present an interview and professional presentation workshop at the Melbourne Burwood Campus in January 2019. 

Bringing together a range of stakeholders that includes DeakinTALENT, this event will also link in with Deakin’s first-year Personal Insight unit. 

Students studying this unit, as well as those from under-represented or disadvantaged backgrounds, will be invited to the workshop which will include interview preparation and professional styling advice and the opportunity to receive free business attire.

Deakin staff are invited to assist the program by donating business clothing and accessories via the ‘Retire your Attire’ boxes at Melbourne Burwood and Geelong campuses.

For more information, please contact bl-student-info@deakin.edu.au.