New partnership aims to build young women's financial independence

New partnership aims to build young women

The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation (CCAF) and The Warrior Woman Foundation (TWWF) have announced a half-million-dollar partnership to support vulnerable young Australian women achieve financial independence and resilience.

Within 12 months of young women leaving foster care in New South Wales, 50 per cent become unemployed, homeless, pregnant or end up in jail1 and the 28 per cent who become pregnant are 10 times more likely to have their child removed, adding to the generational cycle of trauma.

The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation is a philanthropic initiative between Coca-Cola South Pacific Pty Ltd, and Coca-Cola's Australian bottling partner, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, providing support to Australian charities for the past 20 years.

Announced today, a new $508,200 grant from CCAF will allow Warrior Woman to deliver its financial literacy program to 120 young women who are at risk of not finishing high school, are leaving out-of-home care programs or who would benefit from guidance.

Anna Dear, CCAF Board Director, said Warrior Woman was a stand-out in the CCAF’s competitive Flagship Partner Grant process..

“The Warrior Woman Foundation addresses a critical gap in financial literacy for young women who are without a safety net, providing evidence-based courses and volunteer mentors to help them build their independence,” Anna said.

“Through this partnership and funding the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation is proud to be helping create brighter futures for these vulnerable young women, equipping them with the skills needed to address challenges and take control of their financial futures.”

Warrior Woman has a particular focus on supporting young women leaving the out-of-home care system on their 21st birthday, which is the date all government-based foster or group home support ceases in New South Wales. The loss of this safe home is compounded for young women with trauma, abuse, low educational attainment, poor mental health, high rates of teen pregnancy, alcohol, and drug addiction.

The Warrior Woman Foundation CEO, Jessica Brown, said the funding would allow the delivery of The Young Woman Warrior program to at-risk women in Sydney, and the Hunter and Illawarra regions.

“The program provides financial education and engages professional women as mentors to work one-on-one with mentees over six months, helping them take control of their lives through financial literacy, employability and self-efficacy.

“We’ve seen first-hand the positive impacts of the program and are grateful to be able to bring this assistance to even more young women with the help of the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation.”

Sarah Burn, CCAF Board Director said the flagship partnership with TWWF aligned with CCAF’s mission to create possibilities for a brighter, more sustainable future for Australians today and tomorrow.

“The Warrior Woman Foundation has helped more 50 young women improve their financial literacy skills since it was established in 2020, and we’re proud to play a part in furthering the positive impact being made to break poverty cycles for young women,” Sarah said.

The CCAF provides grants of up to $600,000 over three years to one Flagship Partner annually, and supports many other charitable organisations with one-off grants of up to $25,000 based on nominations from Coca-Cola employees through its Employee Connected Grants program.

Other current CCAF Flagship Partner Grant recipients include Landcare Australia and First Hand Solutions.

This latest grant awarded to The Warrior Woman Foundation brings the total of funds donated by the CCAF to more than $19 million since 2002.

This article originally appeared as a media release from the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation.