Sydney TAFE has teamed with a new clothing and retail social enterprise to launch a dynamic state first.
As part of the partnership, Sydney TAFE’s fashion technology teachers will work with budding social enterprise The Social Outfit to help train migrants and refugees with skills in sewing, pattern making and textile design.
The Social Outfit charity is based on the successful social enterprise The Social Studio which has been operating in Melbourne since 2009, but this is the first time such an initiative will be based in Sydney.
Students are expected to gain real fashion industry skills and draw on their own creativity and rich cultural heritage to produce garments for The Social Outfit’s store and adjoining workshop in Newtown.
Sydney TAFE will also mentor and support the trainers at The Social Outfit and provide up to 20 students with a Certificate III in Clothing Production.
Sydney TAFE associate director Madelinka Sulic said Sydney TAFE is delighted to partner with The Social Outfit.
“Their commitment to a sustainable model, which emphasises job-ready skills within a supported environment and interaction with the broader Australian community, is a sound approach and we hope to work together for many years to come,” she said.
The Social Outfit aims to empower people from new migrant and refugee backgrounds by providing them with work-ready skills and education pathways as they settle in Australia.
The announcement comes on the eve of World Refugee Day (June 20) which is part of the global Refugee Week. In 2014, Refugee Week will be held from Sunday June 15 to Saturday June 21.