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 Luz Restrepo – Founder of SisterWorks
"SisterWorks – From Refugees to Social Entrepreneurs" SisterWorks evolved from a group founded by Luz Restrepo, a political refugee from Colombia. Luz arrived in Australia in 2010 with her life in tatters and spoke no English. “I felt like a nobody; frightened, isolated and disempowered.” She soon discovered that she was not alone. Along with another 25 women experiencing similar challenges, she began to make and sell crafts around Melbourne. They understood that to support each other was also to strengthen each other. The SisterWorks model was officially incorporated in May 2013 when a committee of volunteers joined them with legal, fund-raising, marketing and administrative skills, providing support and structure to the project. Now SisterWorks Family is formed of over 170 Sisters: 68 remarkable volunteers, four tireless staff members and 88 amazing women who are working hard to become entrepreneurs or to have work experience in Australia that allows them to become self-sufficient and independent. Luz studied Medicine in her native Colombia, graduated as a GP and worked in Casualty. Finding that she enjoyed hospital administration more, she moved into an administrative role gaining Graduate Diplomas in Business Administration and Marketing and an MA in Communication. Before leaving Colombia in 2010 Luz had established her own communications company and was a university lecturer in Marketing. Then life became unsafe for Luz and her family. As a political refugee, Luz arrived in Australia in 2010, with her life in tatters and spoke no English. She felt like a nobody: frightened, isolated and disempowered. But Luz soon discovered that she was not alone. In 2011, along with a group of 25 women experiencing similar challenges, they began to make and sell crafts around Melbourne. The group understood that to support each other was also to strengthen each other. Hence SisterWorks was formed. |
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GUEST SPEAKER
Sean Car (RC Docklands) with Neville John and Daniel Lim 
