Westpac Group

⏳ With the holidays flying by, there’s a lot to look forward to in the upcoming school year for Bank of Melbourne Foundation and Down Syndrome Victoria. With the assistance of a $300,000 multi-year grant from Bank of Melbourne Foundation, Down Syndrome Victoria is launching a groundbreaking online education portal. 📚 This innovative platform will empower teachers with the tools and resources to create more inclusive classrooms, ensuring children with Down syndrome are supported to thrive. From pre-natal support to employment services and ageing well programs, Down Syndrome Victoria continues its incredible work advocating for inclusive opportunities at every life stage. 🌟 Learn more 👉 https://lnkd.in/g9d3tjBU #InclusiveEducation #BankOfMelbourneFoundation #Impact #Community #DoingGoodIsInOurDNA

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re thrilled to celebrate the recent achievements of our #WestpacScholar and #WestpacFoundation community! 👏 Geoffrey Smith, a 2022 Westpac Social Change Fellow, co-founder and CEO of Australian Spatial Analytics (ASA) has been named the 2025 QLD Australian of the Year. ASA, a recipient of the Westpac Foundation Social Enterprise Grant, is a social enterprise employing over 150 neurodivergent young adults to deliver geospatial and engineering services. With an inclusive workplace where 80% of employees are neurodivergent and 61% come from long-term unemployment, Geoffrey and his team are redefining the future of work. 👏 Luke Terry, a 2017 Westpac Social Change Fellow and CEO of White Box Enterprises has been awarded QLD Impact Leader at the 2024 Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) Awards. Over the past five years, White Box Enterprises, a Westpac Foundation grant partner, has created more than 900 jobs for individuals facing disadvantage and unemployment, demonstrating the power of social enterprise to transform lives. 👏 Rebecca Scott, OAM, co-founder of STREAT, has been named Melburnian of the Year. Westpac Foundation has been proud to support STREAT, a social enterprise that tackles youth disadvantage and homelessness by offering career pathways in hospitality. We’re incredibly proud to be part of their journeys and excited to see all the positive impact they continue to make in 2025 and beyond! #WestpacScholars #WestpacFoundation #SocialImpact #Leadership #Impact #Community #Empowerment #SocialChange #QldAustralianOfTheYear #MelbournianOfTheYear David Crisafulli MP

One of Australia's most successful and celebrated designers, Collette Dinnigan AO's clothes have been worn by super⭐s such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Kylie Minogue. In an interview with Westpac Wire, Dinnigan shares revealing insights into her creative process, business mindset and offers a behind-the-scenes look into her glamorous world. Watch the full interview and story, here: https://lnkd.in/gseYMAD6 Cover image credit: Earl Carter and Getty

Meet Elisha Cordero, a 2024 Westpac Young Technologist, who is using her passion for tech to tackle gender inequality in STEM and improve rural healthcare through innovative solutions like telemedicine. With her determination and the support of the Westpac Scholars community, Elisha is shaping the future of tech in ways that matter most. 🙌   If you know a Year 12 student passionate about STEM, encourage them to apply for the 2025 Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship! With up to $20,000, a trip to Singapore, and mentorship opportunities, it’s the perfect opportunity to ignite their future in STEM.   Hurry, applications closing soon on Monday 13 January 2025. Apply now 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gcSvv93G Read Elisha's full story 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gDmubAe2 #WestpacScholars #DoingGoodIsInOurDNA

📚🐛If you’re after a new book to sink your teeth into during the holidays, look no further. Wire chatted to Westpac economists Illiana Jain, Elliot Clarke, Luci Ellis, Matthew Hassan and Jameson Coombs about their standout reads. Don't fear - they were tasked with choosing one brainier, economics recommendation, and a lighter option. 🤓 From global economics, to the FTX scandal, to gastronomy, these +10 📖 come highly recommended. Feel free to drop your favourite books in the comments below. And to see the full list, click here: https://lnkd.in/gTVphbk6

For many of us, the end of the year is a time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when cybercriminals ramp up their efforts to catch us out while our guard might be down. Westpac cyber security expert Sally Youden shares some tips on how to stay safe over the holiday season. Full story: https://lnkd.in/gHxGBNCG

Peter King said Westpac was in a strong position to navigate Australia's economic recovery, as he signed off as CEO at the bank's AGM in Sydney to mark the end of a three-decade long career with the organisation. Chairman Steven Gregg thanked King for his "immense contribution", while saying Westpac had an "outstanding leader" in Anthony Miller to lead the bank into the future. Full story: https://lnkd.in/gxG-NCz5

The Westpac Scholars Trust is proud to celebrate a remarkable milestone: welcoming their 100th Social Change Fellow! This achievement highlights the incredible contributions of changemakers past, present, and future who are transforming communities across Australia. 🙌   One such changemaker is Jeremy Forbes, founder of HALT Hope Assistance Local Tradies and a 2016 Westpac Social Change Fellow who has dedicated his career to supporting the mental health of Aussie tradies. Through programs like Save Your Bacon and advocacy for better workplace mental wellbeing support, he is changing the conversation around mental health in the trades sector—one bacon and egg roll at a time. 🥓🍳   Read the full story 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gUBxEDw7 #WestpacScholars #Impact #SocialChange #DoingGoodIsInOurDNA Lauren Hill Amy Lyden

🎉 Meet the 2025 Westpac Social Change Fellows 🎉 Westpac Scholars is excited to announce 10 exceptional changemakers who have been awarded a $50,000 Fellowship each, with a total of $500,000 in funding to help them grow as leaders and increase their impact. These inspiring individuals are addressing some of Australia’s most critical social challenges, with a focus on communities including people living with a disability, refugees and asylum seekers, young people, women at risk, and First Nations communities. Westpac Scholars is also celebrating a major milestone—welcoming their 100th Social Change Fellow to the W100! Please join us in giving them a warm welcome; we can’t wait to see all they’ll achieve. 🙌 Learn more about this incredible new generation of changemakers 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gM286fgY Congratulations to: Andy Cullen Abraham Kuol Noel Lim Susan Palmer Caleb Rixon Sarah Rosenberg Alexie Seller Richard Warner Marcus Watson Georgia Weir #DoingGoodIsInOurDNA #WestpacScholars #SocialChangeFellowship *Please note that Alexie Seller was not available for photography on the selected day due to location.

TECHx, Westpac’s annual technology expo, celebrated its 10-year anniversary this year and marked the occasion with a look back on the innovations that have transformed the bank over the years. With a nod to the future, the event also focused on nurturing emerging tech talent. Full story: https://lnkd.in/gkuWdyxw