Our why is female empowerment, and it is at the core of everything we do. Our key focus is on empowering women to be financially independent through employment.
Our mission is to empower women to have choices to help build a life full of passion and purpose, whatever that may be. We are firm believers that employment is the key to financial independence, and financial independence provides freedom of choice.
Explore our initiatives below that all work hard towards this mission.
Paid-Parental Leave Program
Empowering women is our everyday mission. It’s in our DNA. The way we see it, every female should feel inspired and encouraged in the workforce.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, DISSH introduces a paid family leave entitlement for our team. Why? Because ambition and motherhood are not opposing paths. Because modern companies need to evolve. And because we believe women deserve to have both, a career and a family (should they choose), without compromise.
This is the standard she deserves.
Introducing Phase Four of the Paid Parental Leave Program.
This year, after listening to our people within the walls at DISSH and beyond (that’s you), we are introducing an additional two weeks additional paid parental leave.
Parents or carers with a child aged 0-12 years old will be entitled to an additional 2 weeks annually applied paid leave – covering all the important stuff, like school transitions or events, to meaningful parenting moments and milestones, to illness or caregiving – the list goes on.
Our Paid Parental Leave Program (PPLP) helps close the gap on inequality for those balancing the fickle art of work and parenthood. Life happens, family members get sick and need support, and to us, that’s OK. Our PPLP normalises the need to focus on the things that matter. Deadlines can wait, family can’t.
As a female-founded business (and one that’s employed a lot of women), we can’t ignore what our team need at every stage of the parenting journey. We strive to give ongoing support to DISSH families while they navigate every new stage. There’s a reason it takes a village.
On average, an Australian woman earns $1 million less than an Australian man across her career. Motherhood comes with an earnings penalty. Across the first five years of parenting their first child, women’s earnings are reduced by 55% on average. During the same time, men’s earnings remain unaffected (Australian Government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce 10 Year Plan).
We are determined to do our part to close this gap. Women work, women also create life and have children (can you say that again?!), and it's our view, if you wish, you should have the freedom to choose both. Because ambition and motherhood are not opposing paths. In 2023, we launched our industry-leading parental leave program. Alongside this, we made the commitment to continue to evolve and grow the program and take inspired action each year to continue to close the gap. As we grow, the impact we can make grows. Reinvesting profits, back into our people.
There is no doubt that the challenges faced by working women are complex, wide, and varied, but with the right support from employers, these challenges are infinitely more possible to overcome.
Three years on, our most asked questions is ,"How does a business with 94% women afford a PPLP?" Our answer? We can't afford not to. Our call to action? Employers, leaders, business owners. It is time to prioritise programs like this. It’s not only the right thing to do, it’s good business. We have undertaken a self-case study to understand the true cost of our PPLP. What started as a commitment to do the right thing and empower our women has evolved into being a strategic business decision driving long-term success in talent retention, attraction, and engagement, and we have the stats to prove it, including a 140% increase in job applicants from 2023.
If you’re a business or leader wanting to make change, our doors are open. Reach out to PC@dissh.com.au and join our collective mission.
This is how we modernise work.
This is how we raise the standard.
Phase 1: Family Planning
- Paid leave for IVF, fertility, egg freezing, surrogacy, adoption planning, doctor appointments, and general pregnancy-related illness.
- A bespoke transition coaching program for expecting parents.
Phase 2: Parental Leave
- 16 weeks paid leave at full salary for primary carers.
- 4 weeks paid leave at full salary for secondary carers.
- Superannuation paid for up to 52 weeks.
- A bespoke transition coaching program for new parents.
Phase 3: Return To Work
- A flexible return to work schedule.
- Return to work financial support.
- Paid leave to support return to work including early pickups and unwell children.
- A bespoke transition coaching program for new parents.
Phase Four: Paid Family Leave
- Additional 2 weeks annually applied paid leave for parents with a child aged 0-12.
- Available to use flexibly in hourly, part day or full day increments for all those milestone moments (like first day of school) or those unexpected circumstances like school closures and illness.
The Encoreship
Our mission in empowering women doesn’t stop at those already within our walls. We extend the support through facilitating a game changing employment program: The Encoreship. A three-month paid placement for women facing challenges re-entering the corporate world. Be it financial independence, confidence, skill set, or other, our call to action is to help and assist, because everyone deserves to have a purpose-filled life.
Only 32% of mothers feel confident enough to re-enter the workforce (Get Qualified, 2016), and only 59% of mature age women (55 – 65 years) continue (Australian Government Women’s Workforce Participation, 2020). To us, that’s unacceptable, and with initiatives like the Encoreship, we can bridge that gap.
In 2021, we welcomed our first inspiring and deserving woman into the program at DISSH, with 6 currently in our Encoreship Alumni. With a new year just getting started, we plan to do it all over again in 2026.
For brands that want to get involved and make a difference in 2026, please email pc@dissh.com.au
Mary McConnel Career
Boost Program
Women are crucial in leadership roles across a range of industries. Period. It’s important to recognise the significance women have in these positions, and celebrate them for their efforts and excellence.
In March 2024 we strengthened our partnership with the Children’s Hospital Foundation (CHF) through supporting the return of the Mary McConnel Career Boost Program – an initiative established to honour the pioneering woman who inspired Queenslanders to re-evaluate the care and treatment of sick children. We have a multi-year commitment and have pledged to donate $450,000 over 3 years to annually support three inspiring female researchers in a bid to close the gender gap in academic research.
In 2024, only 20 percent of women account for senior academics in Australian universities and research institutes. It doesn’t take a scientist to realise the scales are unbalanced. With our pledge, we hope to even out the playing field through financial aid and opportunity.
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Dissh acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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