The passion and commitment of individuals, and effective partnerships between the corporate and community sector, were at the heart of the winning financial literacy programs recognised in the 2013 MoneySmart Week Awards ceremony in Sydney on Monday night.
Now in their second year, the MoneySmart Week Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations working to advance financial literacy in Australia.
The Awards were presented at a ceremony in Sydney by Elaine Henry OAM; member of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and director of the Board of Financial Literacy Australia (the not-for-profit company that runs
MoneySmart Week).
Ms Henry said, “Financial literacy has become increasingly important over the last 10 years as the choice and complexity of financial products has grown.
“The people and organisations represented here tonight are helping more Australians towards better-informed financial decision making and consequently, better money health.”
Colin Neave AM, Chair of the MoneySmart Week Awards Judging Panel said the judging panel was impressed with the diversity and range of applications received in the second year of the MoneySmart Week Awards.
“The applications displayed innovation, creativity and leadership in the area of financial literacy, which meant choosing this year’s Award recipients was a very difficult process,” he said.
With the addition of the ‘Individuals’ category this year, the Judges were very impressed by the leadership displayed by individuals, working to make a lasting impact on financial literacy in their communities. The Individual award
winners were:
• Cherie McAdam, a financial counsellor with the Wunan Foundation in Kununnurra in far north Western Australia;
• University of Western Australia academic and financial literacy researcher Dr Paul Gerrans; and
• National Australia Bank’s Head of Community Finance and Development, Corinne Proske.
“We congratulate all of the individuals who applied in this year’s MoneySmart Week Awards and hope each of them continue their important work in this field,” said Mr Neave.
The Judges were also pleased to again see the results of so many strong partnerships, particularly between the corporate and community sectors, demonstrating the power that collaboration and cooperation has in this area.
Among them:
• ANZ Banking Group in partnership with The Benevolent Society, Berry Street, The Smith Family, Mission Australia and Kildonan UnitingCare to deliver adult financial literacy education through its MoneyMinded program;
• National Australia Bank in partnership with Good Shepherd Microfinance and the Centre for Social Impact with research into financial exclusion;
• Wesley Mission with St George Bank delivering the ‘In charge of My Money’ program;
• Duval High School with Community Mutual Group creating the ‘GoBudgeting’ website and game; and
• The Bank of Queensland with Financial Basics Foundation with its ESSI Money Game aimed at school students.
The Judges encouraged those programs that are currently in their infancy that may not have received an Award this year.
“These programs and resources show great potential and the Judges look forward to hearing from them in future years,” said Mr Neave.
Visit the MoneySmart Week website for the full list of this years awards.