SPONSORS

National Australia Bank
Major Sponsor

The National Australia Bank recognises that everyone, no matter where they are across Australia, needs access to banking. Therefore it is our responsibility to provide more than just mainstream financial products and services. Developing and supporting microcredit is part of meeting this commitment.

In collaboration with the community organisation Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service, the National has financially supported Australia's largest microcredit scheme - No Interest Loans as well as developing its own low interest loan product - Step UP.

Step UP is a pilot program which as has been operational since 2004. The aim of the loan is to provide low income users with access to affordable credit for household items. Each customer is mentored through the program and provided with a one-on-one understanding of credit processes with the aim of educating individuals as a to how to use mainstream processes.

Step UP has provided the National with an insight into the needs of low income earners, the self esteem associated with being included in financial mainstream financial processes as well as a practical understanding of how to apply microcredit principles within Australia.

The National is represented on the Australian Committee for the UN Year of microcredit.

ANZ Bank
Major Sponsor

Since 2003 ANZ has been examining the potential for microfinance in Australia.

ANZ has now set an ambitious agenda to address the issues of financial literacy and inclusion.

These issues affect our people, our customers, and the broader community and we intend to lead the way in building the financial knowledge, skills and confidence of all Australians, particularly amongst the most vulnerable.

ANZ's microfinance agenda - Community Development Finance - is an umbrella term which encompasses programs that aim to address financial exclusion such as small loans, loans for enterprise development, matched savings schemes and financial literacy training.

Following research and extensive stakeholder consultation, ANZ has committed to contribute $3 million over three years to a range of initiatives to help those people, particularly those on low incomes, access mainstream financial products. This will also see the expansion of ANZ 's matched savings and financial literacy program - Saver Plus - to six indigenous communities in Northern Territory.

ANZ's interest in this area reflects our concern to respond to those issues which directly relate to the relationship between financial services organisations and the community.

Department of Consumer Affairs
Major Sponsor

Marking its 40^th year in protecting Victorian consumers, Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) is delighted to be a major sponsor of the International Year of Microcredit Conference.

Consumer Affairs Victoria is a broadly-based government consumer agency providing policy advice and engaging in compliance and enforcement activities. It provides information and education services for consumers, tenants, traders and landlords, and third party complaint handling services. CAV also licences and registers businesses and business names.

Protecting and promoting the interests of vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers has been a priority for CAV and this has contributed to the strong focus on credit in recent years. Consumer Affairs Victoria chairs the Uniform Consumer Credit Code Management Committee and has been at the forefront of efforts to achieve effective regulation of credit in Australia.

Microfinance issues are vital for many low income consumers in Australia and other countries, whose consumption and investment opportunities are limited. We trust this conference will assist in promoting ways to meet their needs.

Department for Victorian Communities
Conference Supporter

In 2002, the Department for Victorian Communities (DVC) was created to help achieve the Government's objective of strengthening communities.

Stronger local communities are linked to a series of positive social outcomes including higher rates of year 12 completion and employment, as well as reduced levels of contact with the criminal justice system.

DVC therefore invests in the elements of stronger communities by:

offering grants to resource ideas about improving, involving and connecting local communities

funding programs that develop employment opportunities and skills training

supporting local government - the level of government closest to the community

giving specialist policy advice about key community groups that are often marginalised or excluded

helping to improve the delivery of government services by better planning and coordination

backing major sporting events, local sporting activities, and better community facilities

Community strengthening also requires a series of new interests in public administration that DVC seeks to model, including:

more team based approaches

a single or simpler face of government at a local level

devolution and local priority setting

more flexible and simpler funding arrangements

and skilling up the public sector

DVC has staff in Melbourne and around Victoria.

AusAid
Conference Supporter

AusAID manages the Australian Government's overseas aid program and aims to advance Australia's national interest by assisting developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development.

AusAID provides direct aid to about 45 countries, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Each year the aid program reaches more than 58 million people living in poverty. Reducing poverty and encouraging development contributes to stability and security, which is good for people in developing countries and good for Australians.

In 2004-2005 Australia provided $2.133 billion worth of official development assistance (aid). This was an increase of almost $239 million on the 2003-2004 budget figure of $1.894 billion.

All Australians contribute to Australia's aid program through their tax. Every week, each of us puts in around $1.70 to pay for our aid program - about the cost of a loaf of bread a week.

AusAID acknowledges that microcredit, and more broadly microfinance, is an important tool for reducing poverty and giving poor people a better chance in life.

During 2003-2004, AusAID provided microcredit and saving facilities to help more than 143,000 people in the Asia-Pacific region to access saving and loan services and to pass the benefits onto around 410,000 dependents (older parents, children etc).

Australia has also recently supported microfinance organisations benefiting hundreds or thousands of people in China, Sri Lanka, India, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Vanuatu and Bougainville.

Goldman Sachs JBWere Philanthropic Services
Conference Supporter

Goldman Sachs JBWere has an established tradition of assisting the philanthropic and not-for-profit sectors. The Philanthropic Services division furthers this commitment to the community by promoting philanthropy across its client base, providing advice and assistance to endowments, foundations and not-for-profit groups and assisting corporate clients to establish and manage an appropriate philanthropic strategy.