WISE Employment held its inaugural ‘Tailored for Success’ clothes exchange on Tuesday November 8 to help clothe job seekers in appropriate professional attire for interviews. The initiative calls on the community to donate the corporate wardrobe items that are a necessary ingredient to presenting well in an interview, but beyond reach for many disadvantaged job seekers.

Sakura Oddie from the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and Rachel Wilcox from the Immigration Department attended the event along with representatives from Tasmanian training organisations, community organisations, universities and other Government organisations.

WISE Hobart Referral Officer Belinda McDermott said “Many job seekers find professional clothing a low priority when they are struggling to make ends meet financially, but it is something that can greatly impact their chances of gaining employment.

“The current economic climate has made the financial stresses of pursuing work more and more difficult, and the right clothing is one of those many strains,” said Belinda.

“Once the bills are paid there is often very little left over for other expenses and many of these women are more likely to spend money on their children or other home expenses than on clothing for themselves”.

Alex Newton from WISE Tasmania said that they are already planning other support initiatives to help their job seekers gain more confidence and achieve their vocational goals.

Anybody wishing to make a donation can drop appropriate corporate attire into the WISE Employment office at 83 Brisbane St, Hobart or call 03 6235 5800 for more information on how you can become involved.