Sustainability in action
Financial education
- Our Approach
- Australia's First School of Money
- St.George partners with Wesley Mission
- New Zealand's Managing your Money
- Pacific Banking works with AusAid
- BT Financial Group supports employees
Our Approach
We care about local communities beyond banking. We believe one area we can really make a difference is through the provision of financial education.
The different brands within The Westpac Group in Australia and NZ have each developed financial capability programmes to help their communities to learn good day to day money management skills.
Australia's First School of Money
Westpac launches Australia’s First School of Money
Westpac has launched Australia’s First School of Money in 2011 – the Davidson Institute - a complete educational resource of seminars, short courses, accredited courses and financial education and advice designed to help all Australians make more confident financial decisions.
The first financial institute of its kind in Australia, the Westpac-backed Davidson Institute makes financial literacy accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of experience,with resources including everything from nationally-recognised qualifications through to free local seminars and a comprehensive library of financial education hints, tips and tools. Davidson Institute is a place where it’s ok to learn from scratch or build on existing skills.
St.George partners with Wesley Mission
St.George assists communities with new financial education program
St.George this year launched a partnership with Wesley Mission to deliver a new user-friendly financial literacy education program, aimed at alleviating financial stress by helping people take control of their money.
The program, ‘In charge of my money’, assists communities, groups and individuals to be able to make more informed decisions about their spending and borrowing. It covers: identifying income and expenses; differentiating between needs and wants; setting up a budget; understanding the costs involved in credit card use and other forms of borrowing; and how to save.
The financial literacy program will be promoted through local community centres and organisations in Sydney and Newcastle, government agencies and Wesley Mission’s own community services.
New Zealand's Managing your Money
Money Management builds relationships in New Zealand
New Zealand has also been working with businesses, schools and Not-for-Profits to help them develop effective money management skills through the 'Manage Your Money' financial literacy program.
In the last 2 years over 46,000 people have completed the program. Westpac New Zealand has found money management has helped build stronger relationships with new and existing customers. Westpac New Zealand have exceeded their commitment to roll out the program to 45,000 New Zealanders by 2013.
Pacific Banking works with AusAid
Pacific Banking partners with AusAID for a more sustainable future
Westpac Pacific Banking has formalised its partnership with AusAID, the Australian Government's overseas aid program, following the signing of a three-year agreement.
This follows Pacific Banking's preliminary participation in AusAID's Pacific Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme where workers from Tonga and Vanuatu are granted special working visas to work in agricultural settings in Australia. Westpac Pacific Banking provided the Financial First Steps training to the workers as well as offered sessions on banking services, in Tonga and Vanuatu as well as Australia. Numerous Financial First Steps workshops have also been run with private companies, schools, community and church groups in Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Samoa.
BT Financial Group supports employees
BT supports employees with Super decisions
BT Super has been running a series of 'Lunch 'n' Learn' seminars across Australia with the aim of increasing the financial literacy of their employees, and their friends and family. The seminars have helped employees with practical tips on how to start the year on the right foot.
