Westpac Group

We’re proud to support leaders who challenge convention and create opportunities for those who need it most. Westpac Social Change Fellow, Luke Terry, is transforming the employment landscape for people who face barriers to work. Through White Box Enterprises, he’s helped create more than 1,000 jobs — and he’s not stopping there, with a vision to reach 5,000 by 2030. Luke’s approach is a reminder of the power of stepping back, looking beyond the day-to-day, and imagining what’s possible when purpose and innovation collide. 👉 Check out our Impact Report to learn more about Luke’s journey, as well as stories from other scholars working to create lasting impact: https://lnkd.in/gTq8uhKP #WestpacScholar #SocialChangeFellow #SocialImpact #Leadership

🎉 International Volunteer Day 🎉 This year, Westpac employees dedicated over 65,000 hours to volunteering, supporting local communities right across Australia. From mentoring and governance roles to rolling up their sleeves for hands-on projects, our people are helping to create meaningful change where it’s needed most. There are plenty of ways to get involved, including Jawun secondments, Community Ambassadors, the Westpac Board Observer Program, and our Skilled Volunteer Network, which connects employees with organisations seeking specialised expertise. These opportunities don’t just help communities — they strengthen social leadership skills and deepen how we work together. A huge thank you to all our employees who generously volunteered in 2025 – keep up the great work! #WeAreWestpac #WPeople #IVD2026 #SkilledVolunteer #InternationalVolunteerDay #GivingBack

What happens when lived experience, cultural understanding and world-class expertise come together to reimagine healthcare? We’re proud to celebrate Westpac Social Change Fellow Dr. Naba Alfayadh, whose organisation Rahma Health has been named Telstra 2025 Business of the Year — along with winning both the Accelerating Women Award and the Championing Health Award 👏. Rahma Health is transforming the way multicultural communities access parenting and health information, delivering culturally safe, evidence-based resources in English and Arabic for families around the world. Born from Naba’s own experience navigating the health system as a young refugee, her work ensures no parent has to face crucial health moments without accessible, trusted guidance. These awards honour a vision for health equity and community-centred care and are testament to the passion and drive from Naba and her team — congratulations! #WestpacScholar #SocialChangeFellow #SocialImpact #EquitableHealthcare

Incredible things are happening across our Westpac Scholars community. From national honours to global study opportunities, our remarkable scholars are showing what it means to lead with purpose and impact: 🎓 Jordan O'Reilly OAM, 2017 Westpac Social Change Fellow — awarded a 2026 John Monash Scholarship, Jordan is off to Harvard University to study a Master in Public Administration, helping shape the next chapter of NDIS policy reform in Australia. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g5UQRKnN 🏅 Daniel Balzer, 2020 Westpac Future Leader — awarded the Rita and John Cornforth Medal for Research Excellence at the University of Sydney Alumni Awards, Daniel’s research is helping advance the next generation of solar energy by uncovering how charge moves through organic materials. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g_vPE46X 👏 Samantha Payne, 2020 Westpac Social Change Fellow - finalist in the Marie Claire Women of the Year Awards, in the Advocate of the Year category for her work at The Pink Elephants Support Network, providing resources and support for people impacted by early pregnancy loss. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gCDnENgQ #WestpacScholars #SocialChangeFellow #FutureLeader #Leadership #PurposeDriven #ResearchExcellence

Today we’ve announced two important steps to better serve regional Australia. We’re extending Westpac’s moratorium on regional branch closures through to 2030, and we’re launching a new Community Banking Service pilot to bring more face-to-face support to regional Australia. These initiatives follow a comprehensive review of our regional services and reflect our commitment to building strong regional communities, which are vital to our nation’s success. We know most of our customers now prefer to bank with us digitally. But we also know the importance of personal connection, especially in our regions. It’s important we get the balance right and show up for our customers in the way they want – whether that’s in-person, digitally or virtually. I’m looking forward to launching our Community Banking Service trial early next year, starting in Dungog, Bulahdelah and Manilla in regional New South Wales. 

It’s not every day you get to spend time with people who are changing the world. We recently met the incredible finalists for the Westpac Social Change Fellowship. These social innovators are tackling some of Australia’s biggest challenges, and their dedication to building a more inclusive Australia is truly inspiring. A heartfelt thank you to our National Selection Panel, made up of Westpac Board Members and respected sector leaders, who bring a wealth of experience, deep sector knowledge and genuine care to the process. We’re so grateful for the time and wisdom they invest to help identify the changemakers who will make the greatest impact. Each of the 10 Fellows selected will receive up to $50,000 to invest in their personal development and leadership journey, empowering them to scale their impact even further. We can’t wait to introduce you to our 2026 Social Change Fellows soon. Lauren Hill Margie Seale Jane Calvert Laura O'Reilly OAM Adam Davids Tim Burroughs Michael Sirmai Amy Lyden Lisa Boothby GAICD Cindy Carpenter Danny Hui Libby Ward-Christie Photo Credit: Tomasz Machnik Flashpoint Labs #WestpacScholars #SocialChangeFellows #SocialImpact

✨ Investing in change that matters ✨ Since establishing its first philanthropic foundation over 145 years ago, today, Westpac Group supports a family of five foundations including Westpac, St. George, BankSA, Bank of Melbourne Foundations, along with Westpac Scholars Trust — each united by a commitment to creating opportunity, championing inclusion, and delivering lasting impact for Australians. Their collective achievements are showcased in the latest Foundations Impact Report. In 2025, the foundations awarded $10.6 million ($100M+ since 2015) in grants and scholarships, supporting 158 partners and scholars across job creation, next-generation leadership, and children’s education and wellbeing. This investment enabled the creation of 1,829 jobs through social enterprise partnerships and supported 50 charities working to improve outcomes for children and young people in local communities. Check out the full report: https://lnkd.in/gTq8uhKP #StGeorgeFoundation #WestpacFoundation #BankSAFoundation #BankOfMelbourneFoundation #WestpacScholarsTrust

A very special congratulations to Abraham Kuol, who was named the 2026 Victorian Young Australian of the Year! 👏 🎉 A Westpac Scholar and passionate community leader, Abraham is driving change for young African-Australians — using sport, mentoring and research to build belonging and open doors to opportunity. From co-founding the Black Rhinos Football Club to pursuing a PhD in Criminology at Deakin University, his work bridges community experience and evidence-based change. A special mention to Westpac Social Change Fellow Bronwyn Bate, nominated for the WA Local Hero Award for her inspiring work supporting women escaping domestic violence. As Founder of Mettle Women Inc., she’s creating pathways to safe, meaningful employment for women rebuilding their lives. We’re so proud to see Westpac Scholars leading with purpose and creating lasting impact in communities right across Australia. #WestpacScholars #SocialChangeFellow #VictorianOfTheYear #Leadership #PurposeDriven

Westpac Scholars in high places 🌄 Over three unforgettable days, Asian Exchange Scholars Ollie Taylor, Jasdeep Renny and Lucas M. took on Mount Rinjani — rising a staggering 3,726 metres above Lombok — testing their courage and endurance in ways they never imagined. Through rainforest trails, volcanic ash, and freezing summit winds, every step became a lesson in persistence and teamwork. Guided by locals whose strength and humility left a lasting mark; their patience and generosity of spirit teaching them far more than the landscape itself. Ollie Reflected: “Reaching the summit just after sunrise revealed something profound about leadership. It does not rest in authority or achievement, but in persistence, empathy, and the courage to lift others when the path becomes uncertain. Every setback demanded patience, every word of encouragement mattered, and together we learned that resilience is not simply endurance — it is the quiet conviction to keep going, and perhaps more importantly, to lift others up to do the same.” What an incredible achievement — we can’t wait to see where the Westpac Scholars flag will fly next! #WestpacScholars #AsianExchange #Leadership #Resilience #Growth #MountRinjani