The Ann Polis Empowerment Fund

WAM is seeking donations from our supporters to build a corpus to provide material aid for our program participants who are looking to return to work or study, and need additional equipment.

Over the past few months, we have been able to access refurbished laptops for women returning to study, secure donations for essential clothing for women applying for work, and even provide tools for a woman starting a job as a gardener. These contributions have proven incredibly helpful, accelerating the progress of participants who have received these 'endowments.'

However, purchasing these items as needed would be ideal, which led to the creation of the Ann Polis Fund.

Why do we need this fund ?

Commencing in July 2022, WAM received funding from the State government to expand our mentoring program over the next four years. This grant specifically covers our program-related and administration costs.  It means more women can access our community one-to-one mentoring program, and we can also expand into regional areas. We are very grateful to be able to continue this work. The grant, however, does not cover any new and emerging needs and other sections of our charitable purpose, so we still need to fundraise. We also need to prove that we can eventually become self-sustaining. 

About Ann Polis

Ann was instrumental in the establishment of Women and Mentoring (WAM) and was the founding director and chair for many years. She also worked with the ‘Woman to Woman’ mentoring program operated by the Victorian Association for the Care & Resettlement of Offenders, supporting women upon their release from prison.

Earlier in her career, Ms Polis established The Carlton News, later The Melbourne Times, a community newspaper focusing on local campaigns, the arts and life in the inner city in the 1970s.

Ann later worked at the Trade Union Training Authority and Australian Council of Trade Unions, training trade union representatives to be effective advocates in the workplace, as well as developing the original Assessment and Workplace Training Competency Standards for the Australian National Training Authority. She worked at the Public Transport Corporation as Coordinator of Consultation.

Ann has served on boards, councils and in community groups including Wellington Inc, Fitzroy Primary School, the Fitzroy Residents’ Association, the Neighbourhood Justice Centre, Swinburne Institute of Technology, and Yarra City Council volunteering programs.

Donate to the Ann Polis Empowerment Fund

Ann Polis - Founding Director - Women And Mentoring