Ready Set Australia

“I feel proud to wear these clothes. I feel more confident presenting myself for an interview.”

Mori is 19 and working towards a role in hospitality or retail, but like many young people, getting to the interview stage comes with its own challenges. Before her FutureFIT session, Mori didn’t have suitable clothing or the confidence to put together an outfit for an interview. Through FutureFIT, delivered in partnership with Ready Set Australia at our Tarneit Hub, a location proudly supported by Wyndham City Council, Mori received a personalised styling session and work-appropriate clothing.

When young people don’t have access to the right clothing or support, opportunities can be missed before they even begin. With youth unemployment in Victoria sitting at 10.1%, removing these barriers is vital. FutureFIT is designed to support young job seekers experiencing disadvantage like Mori as they take their next step, with practical tools, guidance, and the confidence to show up ready, confident, and prepared for what’s next.

We would also like to thank Ford Australia for their support of this work.

SAVE THE DATE
Our Circular Fashion Designer Sale is back,
and you won’t want to miss it!

📅Friday 26 June | 11am – 5pm
📅Saturday 27 June | 10am – 2pm
📍149 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

Shop men’s and women’s designer labels

New and pre-loved clothing, shoes, handbags & accessories
Every purchase helps empower people facing barriers to employment by supplying them with free quality clothing and professional career coaching.

All stock must go! Mark your calendars and stay tuned! ❤️

Recently, Ready Set had the privilege of working with Jackson through our mobile service at Lilydale.

Jackson’s journey reflects determination and perseverance. After completing Year 12 in Belgrave, he began university but chose to step away when the course wasn’t the right fit. Taking time to reassess his direction, he later returned as a mature-age student and successfully completed a Bio-tech Honours degree.

As he now looks to build a career in the bio-tech industry or as a research assistant, Jackson has faced challenges — including limited access to appropriate interview clothing.

Through our service, we were able to provide him with tailored pieces to help him feel prepared and confident. Jackson shared how proud he felt wearing professional clothing for the first time.

Stories like Jackson’s highlight the importance of accessible support at critical moments. Ready Set is grateful to be part of that journey.

“I feel different. I feel very mature in these clothes.”
Zara (name changed for privacy) is 18 and preparing to step into the childcare sector, a big moment, and one that starts with feeling ready.
Through FutureFIT, a partnership between Big Group Hug and Ready Set Australia, our latest client Zara received a personalised styling session at our Tarneit Hub, which is proudly supported by Wyndham City Council.
Before the session, Zara shared she didn’t feel confident putting together an outfit for interviews. Afterwards, that shifted to extremely confident.
Having the right clothing makes the wearer feel like they can approach opportunities feeling prepared, capable, and ready to be taken seriously.
FutureFIT is designed to support young jobseekers experiencing disadvantage like Zara as they take their next step, with practical tools, guidance, and the confidence to move forward.
Because when confidence grows, so do opportunities.
We would also like to thank Ford Australia for their support of this work.

It was a pleasure to welcome .australia and a group of jobseekers to Ready Set recently.

Each participant met with our volunteer coaches and stylists, receiving personalised resume guidance and clothing support to help them feel confident and prepared for upcoming opportunities.

The group reflected a diverse range of backgrounds and employment goals, and our team worked closely with everyone to provide tailored support and outfits suited to their needs.

Thank you to WISE Employment for visiting us — we value the opportunity to support your clients on their employment journey.

As we close National Volunteer Week, we’re proud to introduce a significant milestone for Ready Set - our 15-year anniversary.

This year, we recognise the six founding volunteers who established Ready Set in 2011, identifying a gap in support and creating a service to help men and women move toward employment with confidence. Their vision and commitment laid the foundation for everything we do today.

To mark this milestone, we are also introducing a new visual for our 15-year celebrations - a jigsaw puzzle. Each piece represents the people and partners who make Ready Set what it is today.

Over the past 15 years, Ready Set has grown and evolved, but the core purpose remains the same: to support individuals, strengthen confidence, and create opportunity. The commitment made by our founding volunteers continues today across our entire volunteer cohort.

To our founders, and to every volunteer who has contributed - thank you. Your collective effort continues to shape Ready Set and the community we serve.

If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our website to register your interest and be part of a community creating real impact.

👉 https://www.readyset.org.au/volunteering

As part of National Volunteer Week, we recognise Muriel, a long-standing volunteer with over 14 years of service, as she retires from Ready Set.

Q: What’s one small thing from your time here that you’ll always smile about?

A: The pleasure of seeing a client who arrived nervous and shy with their head down leave with a bag of suitable clothes, head up and a smile.

Q: Has this experience changed the way you see people in any way?

A: Not changed the way I see people, but it has reminded me of what it is to be privileged and broadened my understanding of the diversity of our society.

Q: If you could go back to your very first day at Ready Set, what would you tell yourself?

A: My aim is to assist clients to improve their options in life by using my skills to help people put one foot in front of the other.

Q: What are you going to miss the most - the people, the purpose, or the version of yourself you got to be at Ready Set?

A: I will miss the people, the purpose, and being part of a purposeful team, whose volunteer work makes a difference.

Q: In three words, how would you describe your time at Ready Set?

A: Satisfying, educational, humbling.

Thank you, Muriel, for your dedication and the lasting impact you have made. 💓

As part of National Volunteer Week, we’re recognising the scale and impact of our volunteer network.

These numbers reflect the time and ongoing commitment our volunteers contribute each year. From new volunteers joining us to those who have supported Ready Set over many years, their contribution is critical to delivering our services.

Thank you to our volunteer community for the role you play in making this work possible.

If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our website to register your interest and be part of a community creating real impact.

👉 https://www.readyset.org.au/volunteering

As we continue celebrating National Volunteer Week, we are reflecting on a special moment from March, when we brought our volunteers together for a dedicated Volunteer Day.

It was an opportunity to pause the day-to-day and reconnect with the impact of our work. We heard firsthand from a client who shared their personal journey, offering a powerful reminder of why Ready Set exists. We also welcomed insights from our referring partners and shared what is ahead as we continue to grow and evolve.

To everyone who joined us on the day - thank you. Your ongoing commitment is what makes this work possible, and it was a privilege to come together, reflect, and look forward as a community.