TCFWA (The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Resource Centre of Western Australia Inc) has recently been awarded funding to implement two exciting projects under the Enterprise Connect WIIN (Workshops, Industry Intelligence and Networking) program. WIIN is a competitive small grants program that helps organisations to deliver seminars, workshops and other activities to small and medium sized businesses in the Enterprise Connect target markets. The aim of WIIN is to provide relevant information on good business practices to businesses to help them reach their full potential.

Perth will host the 3rd International Conference of Fashion Incubators in 2011, and the event is calling for papers now. Conference Convenor Carol Hanlon was successful in winning the conference for Perth through her award in the prestigious 2009 City of Perth Convention Scholarship prize which enabled her to travel to the 2nd International Fashion Incubator in Atlanta in the USA and beyond in 2009, and her dream was realised when she then won the opportunity to bring the 3rd International Fashion Incubator Conference to Perth in 2011. The conference is currently calling on interested partners and sponsors.

TCFWA / Belmont BEC is coordinating an opportunity for Australian and International fashion designers, retailers and manufactures to join a buying mission to India International Garment Fair, New Delhi, July 12-14, 2010 showing Spring/Summer 2011. The buying mission will provide the opportunity for eligible firms to apply for sponsored airfare and two night’s accommodation sponsorship.

TCF Australia Online Training Mentoring Project will provide free access to eCommerce business workshops, online web mentoring, ‘Ask an Expert’ forums and helpline access to small businesses operating in the textile, clothing, footwear & leather industry across Australia. The project will help participants improve their skills in website development, web marketing strategies and online sales tools that will assist to increase brand exposure, increase sales & profitability.

Ms Carol Hanlon, President of Belmont Business Professional Women (Belmont BPW) will be representing local women at the upcoming fifty-fourth session of the United Nations – Commission on the Status of Women to be held from the 1st to the 12th of March 2010 in New York. The Commission on the Status of Women will undertake a fifteen-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly.

Carol Hanlon, Manager of the Belmont Business Enterprise Centre (Belmont BEC), and Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre WA (TCFWA / TCF Global) has recently returned from an amazing world journey after winning the coveted 2009 City of Perth Convention Scholarship which was worth $10,000. The City of Perth Convention Scholarship is designed to assist the winner, from a not-for-profit organization, in their personal and professional development, either through attendance at a relevant international conference or undertaking further study in their field of chosen study or endeavour