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16 DECEMBER 2025
We have all heard the saying ‘clothes make the person.’ It’s true, what we wear often determines how others see us, and how we see ourselves.
But for women getting ready to leave prison, clothing hasn’t been a decision they have had to make. They’ve worn the same prison greens for months or years, with no wardrobe, no money, and often little confidence to decide how they want to present themselves to the world.
That’s where Dress for Success NSW & ACT steps in. Their free clothing, styling, and presentation services help women prepare for job interviews, court appearances, or other big moments - giving them the confidence and resources to help change their lives.
“If I didn’t have access to Dress for Success, I would’ve gone to a job interview in jeans and a T-shirt,” one woman at a Corrective Services NSW Transitional Centre said - a place where women live as they take steps from prison back into the community.
Dress for Success has delivered the Personal Styling program at Dillwynia Women’s Correctional Centre since 2022 and has recently begun the delivery of styling and in-person workshops at transitional centres in Emu Plains and Parramatta.
“I believe that our services are well aligned and that we offer valuable support to help female offenders reintegrate back into the community,” Kerry Walters, Operations Manager Dress for Success said.
“All of our services are completely free of charge for all women. We provide clothing, housing interview support, and career services to help women reintegrate into the community.”
An increase in demand has led to ambitious plans to expand the Dress for Success program into more centres, including professional styling workshops recently held at Emu Plains, Bolwara House and Parramatta Transitional Centres, and the Style Delivered postal service delivery of suitable clothing continues to be delivered state wide for women in custody,
Dress for Success services are also designed to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, incorporating cultural identity and community support.
Many of the women in correctional centres come from backgrounds of disadvantage and trauma, staff work hard to support them with dignity, compassion, and a focus on reintegration into the community. Dress for Success is helping bridge the gap where resources are limited.
