Super partnerships lead to lasting community impact

Since launching our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2019, GESB has partnered with organisations and participated in events and programs that have helped us to build relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We aim to take actions that would contribute positively to their community, including improving the superannuation outcomes for them and their families.

One of the most significant of these was our attendance at Big Super Day Out - an event organised by the First Nations Foundation to help Indigenous Western Australians in Broome and Kununurra with their super. This was where we were first introduced to the Wunan Foundation.

Wunan Foundation is an organisation dedicated to supporting Aboriginal communities in the East Kimberley region by providing real opportunities and investing in people’s abilities, through funded programs and innovative business solutions.

‘We contacted Tevy, who put us in touch with Wunan’s Executive General Manager Eddy Gaskill and later David Moore, who is the KEEP program manager,’ Karen said.

‘Our offer was really timely for Wunan because the team was in the process of looking at the resources required for their sponsored students.’

GESB arranged for the decommissioned laptops to be delivered to the KEEP students, sending eight to Wunan’s student house in Welshpool and seven to students in Dural, New South Wales.

David Moore, KEEP Manager at Wunan, said the students, aged between 12 and 17, were delighted to receive the equipment.

‘The students were excited to start using the laptops for their personal use, as well as for their studies,’ David said.

‘Literacy rates among Aboriginal students are often low in remote communities and that’s reflected in many of our KEEP students, who are behind in their literacy skills. Having additional resources is vital to supporting those students and fast-tracking their education.’

Steps we’re taking towards reconciliation

We recognise that building strong, respectful partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities is essential in achieving reconciliation.

GESB is proud to be continuing to work with local and regional organisations in the second phase of our RAP, ‘Innovate’, to help support communities outside the metropolitan area.

‘It’s very important to us that we continue to be involved in programs that can assist in supporting and educating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members and communities,’ Karen Horne said.

‘Financial education is a key focus for us, and we are always looking for opportunities to align with organisations that share our values and provide avenues to help our members understand and manage their finances.

We thought that Wunan’s work in helping these young students was really wonderful and we were really happy to play a role in giving them some of the resources needed to further their education.’

GESB has also offered to cover licence and registration costs for the students in KEEP to access the My Money Dream online program.

Designed by First Nation peoples for First Nations peoples, My Money Dream aims to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples learn about budgeting, banking, insurance and superannuation.

GESB is providing access to the program free of charge for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members. The program aims to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members take control of their finances and feel more confident about managing their money.

Find out more

Download our ‘Innovate’ Reconciliation Action Plan for more details about what we have planned in the next phase of our reconciliation journey.

Learn more about who we are.