The impact of learning financial skills extends far beyond the now. So many people go on from attending Mary MacKillop Today’s education workshops to build better futures for themselves!
You might be surprised to hear that more than 1 in 6 children and 1 in 8 adults live in poverty right here in Australia.
We know the cycle of poverty can be broken when people can access basic financial services at an affordable cost. That’s why, through your support, our Financial Inclusion program is helping people get on top of their finances and take control of their life.
At Mary MacKillop Today, our focus is on holistic support. That means building relationships with each person who comes to us seeking support to escape economic hardship, so we can address the underlying issues together that might be affecting their financial capability. That way, people can get the tailored assistance they need for their own situation.
One of the best ways we can walk with people towards financial independence is to empower them with the knowledge and skills they need now so they can stand on their own in the long term. This is the goal of our financial education workshops. People can come along to learn how to make more informed financial decisions and grow in confidence to manage their finances, now and into the future.
Our wonderful partner organisations play an important role in making our Financial Inclusion program successful. Without their connections with regional community members, we simply wouldn’t be able to achieve the impact that people need to break free from financial hardship.
Anita, our Financial Inclusion Team Leader, explains:
“We are guided by our partners who truly know the needs of the community. We ask them, what do your clients need? Our partners are incredible, and some have been with us since our program started.
Many people take financial literacy for granted — thinking everyone knows things like keeping a shopping list, understanding how to read an energy bill, knowing if you’re eligible for fee free bank accounts, or what your rights are as a tenant.
So, our work is not just about financial literacy. It’s life skills.
The biggest thing for my team is empowering people to work out what their own priorities are for themselves – rather than telling them. It is very rewarding to see our participants embracing what they’ve learnt with us and making changes in their life.
By giving people these skills now, they can go out into the community to share their knowledge with family and friends. Over time, people build their financial resilience and become self-reliant long-term.”
Thank you for your kindness to help us reach regional communities with our Financial Inclusion support services. You are helping people suffering financial hardship to achieve financial freedom for a better tomorrow!
