Handy girls empowering women

THE international Thank You Small Business movement has reached Ballarat with local enterprise Handy Girl Australia celebrated.

Offering home maintenance, gardening and cleaning services, the five-year-old Delacombe-based small business is run by women and only employs women.

Origin Energy has awarded $1250 to chief Handy Girls Kim Halbert-Pere and Jenni Lascheit, who were nominated for their positive contribution to the Ballarat community, and for “building the confidence” of their 30-strong female workforce in a male-dominated industry.

“It’s really nice to be recognised for just working hard,” Ms Halbert-Pere said. “We’ve made it though COVID, which was tough for us as a service industry there to help others.

“Our staff are really unique because they have to be the kind of women who care, and get in and do the work that has to be done, from the front gate of a property, to the back fence, and everything in between.

“We specialise in working for vulnerable people who need us, and we love doing that. To be growing, and to get this recognition, we must be doing something right as a home-grown Ballarat business.”

Ms Halbert-Pere and Ms Lascheit will receive promotion for Handy Girl Australia as part of their award, as well as access to a professional development program.

The recognition comes at a time when the pair are working towards franchising the business.

“We want to be Australia-wide… and to encourage more women to get back into the workforce so they can be confident and get their work skills back,” Ms Halbert-Pere said.

Origin Energy’s Megan Gale said the enterprise is one of five being acknowledged from a broader group of almost 300 nominees.

“This is a chance to celebrate women, and small businesses, after a very tough couple of years,” she said.

“It’s been fantastic for the acclaimed international competition to come to Australia, and to have Australians nominate small businesses that they think are fantastic.

“We thank Kim and Jenni for everything that they do for the community. They should be very proud of themselves.”

Thank You Small Business is a global movement led by Silver Linings, and is being promoted via Origin Energy in Australia.