How Dress for Success is empowering women across Aotearoa

Discover how Dress for Success New Zealand empowers women, and how FSC25 attendees can support their important work through donations and partnership opportunities.

This year, the Financial Services Council is proud to partner with Dress for Success New Zealand (DFSNZ) as our official FSC25 Conference charity partner. Their mission? To help women who are unemployed, or vulnerable achieve economic independence and thrive.

It’s not just about providing clothes. It’s about removing the barriers that stop women from accessing support, and giving them the confidence, tools and community to move forward.

"Dress for Success is a treasure"

Referred to DFS at just 17, Emily Owens knows firsthand how powerful that support can be. She was living independently, in an abusive relationship, and trying to navigate life alone. She describes DFSNZ as the first place where people truly believed in her - even when she didn’t believe in herself.

“It was a safe space for me, not just about clothes, but about what comes next. It was one of the rare moments in my life when something good was happening,” she says.

Today, Emily is a successful Financial Adviser at AdviceFirst and supports other women on their own journeys to financial freedom. She credits DFS with giving her that first spark of hope that changed her life.

A wraparound service with lasting impact

In 2024, Dress for Success NZ supported over 1,500 women through a two-year wraparound service that includes:

• Personalised styling services: Personalised, choice-based access to clothing in a safe, welcoming space, helping women feel seen, valued and supported.
• Career centre support: Providing mentoring, coaching, workshops and tools to help women secure employment
• More than an outfit, or steps to navigate the employment process, DFS offers deeply affirming relationship-based moments that restore self-worth and foster resilience.

DFS have already helped thousands of women, but their goal is to grow that impact, reaching 2,000 women per year by 2027. 

Who they help

Women come to Dress for Success via a wide range of referring organisations - from schools, universities and refugee support services to mental health and addiction programmes, family violence organisations, and justice services.

They support young women starting their careers, women recovering from trauma, those re-entering the workforce after time away, and those who simply need someone in their corner.

At FSC25 Conference: How you can help

We’re thrilled to welcome Dress for Success to the FSC25 Conference, where attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Meet the team and learn more about the impact DFSNZ has across the motu.
• Donate clothing or accessories: DFS accepts clean, gently worn workwear, shoes, handbags and unopened makeup for both women and men.
• Add a donation (options below) when you register for FSC25 via our website.
• Donation options on-site at the FSC25 Conference:
  • $250 enables a woman to access our full two-year wrap around service including clothing, skills, development tools and support.  
  • $100 provides a woman with a complete interview-ready clothing capsule.
  • $50 enables a woman to attend a one-on-one Career Centre coaching session. 
  • $30 enable a woman to attend one in-person group workshop.

• Explore volunteering opportunities: from mentoring and coaching to workshop facilitation and event support.

Every contribution matters. DFSNZ is not government funded, and relies on grants, partnerships and fundraising to continue delivering their transformational services. 

Why we're partnering

At the Financial Services Council, our purpose is to grow the financial confidence and wellbeing of New Zealanders. We’re proud to support an organisation that’s doing exactly that in DFS. 

Dress for Success has already supported over 25,000 women across 25 years of service in Aotearoa. With our help, they can reach thousands more. Join us at FSC25 Conference: Transforming for Tomorrow backing a cause that’s changing lives.