Queensland has announced a $20 million Women’s Career Grants program offering up to $5,000 per applicant to help women return to work after time out of the labour market. The grants are aimed at cutting practical costs that can keep jobseekers from re-entering employment, with eligible expenses including workwear, childcare, training, recertification, transport to and from interviews, tools and technology, and relocation for new roles.
The initiative sits within the Queensland Government’s focus on women’s economic security and a stronger economy. It targets the everyday barriers that can turn a promising job lead into a missed chance. The program will be delivered for its first two years with Future Women, the organisation behind the Jobs Academy program, which the Government has also extended with an extra $4 million to support a further 500 women in 2026 and 2027.
Premier David Crisafulli said the grants are designed to remove cost pressures that can derail a return to work. “This is about practical support to reduce the cost barriers and unlock opportunity, and economic security for Queensland women,” he said. “Queensland women shouldn’t be locked-out of a job because they can’t afford the cost of job-seeking. Whether it is about childcare to attend job interviews, covering relocation or transport costs, or purchasing workwear—these grants provide support where it is most needed.”
The Government says the program is built for women who want to re-enter the workforce after career breaks such as caring for children, periods of family sickness, or relationship breakdowns. By covering items like interview outfits, refresher courses, or the technology needed for modern workplaces, the grants aim to make it easier to move from interest to application to employment.
Minister for Women and Women’s Economic Security, and Minister for Multiculturalism, Fiona Simpson framed the announcement as hands-on help rather than rhetoric. “The Women’s Career Grants will empower Queensland women who are ready to re-enter the workforce and just need some extra support to level the playing field,” Minister Simpson said. “We’ve heard of women writing CVs on their phone, or no longer having appropriate clothing for job interviews, this will provide practical assistance to foster their economic independence. The former Labor Government was long on platitudes and short on practical assistance, Women’s Career Grants will deliver support where and how it’s needed. Labor claimed to champion Queensland women—but actions spoke louder than words, with the closure of maternity wards on their watch, and rampant workplace bullying and harassment of women at the hands of Labor’s CFMEU mates.”
While the Minister’s remarks took aim at Labor’s record, the core offering sets out a clear list of eligible costs and a pathway for women who want to return to paid work. Grants of up to $5,000 are available, and the Government argues that targeted spending at the jobseeker level can deliver quick wins in confidence and employability. Examples cited include childcare for interviews, short courses or recertification to meet industry standards, and help with relocation when a new job requires a move.
Future Women, which will partner on delivery, welcomed the program. Founder Helen McCabe said the grant design matches real-world needs her organisation sees through its Jobs Academy. “Future Women is excited to be partnering with the Queensland Government to make it a reality and support women returning to work,” Ms McCabe said. “This is what we do best. We know how to connect women with the tools and support they need to get back to work.”
The Government has linked the grants to its wider message about lifestyle and the economy. It presents the program as a practical lever to support household stability while addressing employers’ demand for staff across sectors. For those looking to move quickly from interest to application, the process begins with a simple registration of interest ahead of formal applications.
Queensland women can register their interest at www.womenscareergrants.com.au now, with formal applications opening on 3 November. The Government says the registration step will help prospective applicants prepare the documents they need and line up the right expenses, whether that is a short course, updated safety gear, or a new laptop to meet job requirements.
The state’s Jobs Academy program, extended by $4 million for 2026 and 2027, will support an additional 500 women to upskill. The pairing of a grants scheme with a structured academy is pitched as a two-track approach, one that tackles immediate out-of-pocket costs while also building skills and confidence through guided support. Delivery of the Women’s Career Grants in partnership with Future Women is expected to draw on the academy’s experience coaching participants through job search, interview preparation, and workplace readiness.
The Premier’s office calls the grants a tool to unlock opportunity. Advocates point to the difference a small, timely investment can make when a job is within reach yet out of budget due to unavoidable costs. From fuel to reach an interview to the training that meets licensing rules, the list of eligible spending reflects the pinch points women commonly report when trying to re-enter the workforce.
The program’s tone is practical and immediate. Rather than redesigning existing employment services, it adds a flexible grant to handle the last-mile costs that stop applications progressing. That can mean childcare on a short notice interview day, or funds to replace safety boots and tools required to accept a shift. The Government says this approach meets women where they are and helps them move at the pace of real work opportunities.
For prospective applicants, the next steps are straightforward. Register interest at the official website, review the eligible expenses, and prepare to lodge a formal application from 3 November. The Government’s message is that a modest grant can bridge the gap between readiness and a start date, which is why the list of eligible costs spans training, transport, technology, and relocation when a new role demands it.
Future Women’s involvement signals a delivery model that blends funding with guided support. The organisation’s statement suggests it will use its networks to connect participants with the right tools at the right time, whether that is a course, a mentor, or the basics needed for a confident first day back.
The Women’s Career Grants program is set to run with a $20 million allocation, with the separate $4 million extension of the Jobs Academy scheduled for 2026 and 2027. That combination of direct help and structured upskilling forms the backbone of the announcement. For Queensland women weighing up a return to work, the offer is immediate, targeted, and tailored to the costs that matter most when opportunity knocks.
Women can find details and register now at www.womenscareergrants.com.au, before applications open on 3 November.
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