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Traditional Credit Union receives awards from Sir Bob Geldof

14 November 2008: Northern Territory business Traditional Credit Union has won two 2008 Diversity@Work awards in recognition of their commitment to employing indigenous staff.

Traditional Credit Union took out the indigenous category for small and medium businesses and the overall Small/Medium business champion award at a gala dinner attended by Sir Bob Geldof, World Vision Australia Chief Executive Reverend Tim Costello and Minister for Employment Participation Brendan O'Connor.

The 8th annual awards recognise employers who create a business that is inclusive for all its workers, clients and the broader community.

"Diversity is as critical to man as biodiversity is to nature... there is no option. Different systems of thought and behaviour add to the dynamism of any company.

"A country can’t grow without using all the cultures, all the talent, all the dynamism of the people of Australia - their abilities, and disabilities, said Sir Bob Geldof.

Diversity@Work CEO Mark Heaysman congratulated TCU for setting such an outstanding example for other businesses.

Mr Heaysman says employers across Australia must do more to give people with disabilities and from diverse backgrounds a fair go and these awards recognised businesses which are making a real difference.

"It is disappointing that many businesses across Australia do not have a strategy in place to employ people from Indigenous backgrounds. These awards show what is possible and should be an example for others.

T"here’s no reason Australia shouldn’t be the world leader when it comes to workplace diversity. We have a wide population of indigenous workers, mature-aged workers, people with disabilities and from diverse backgrounds, as well as return to work parents.

"These awards are a reminder to every organisation throughout the country to step up. I congratulate TCU on setting such a fine example," says Heaysman.

TCU awarded runner up 2008 NT Employer
of the Year.
Kylie Boyd awarded runner up 2008 Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year

The Department of Education and Training (DET) NT Training Awards were presented at a gala event at the Darwin Convention Centre on Saturday 13th September 2008.

The NT Training Awards are the DET’s annual premier event recognising training excellence and achievements by Territory businesses, training organisations, apprentices, trainees and students. The awards are presented annually as official recognition of merit and excellence contributing to high standards of training and for personal achievement through vocational education and training (VET) sector.

The Training Awards consist of two categories, student and organisational. TCU was recognised as a business enterprise that has achieved excellence in the provision of training of its employees, through its achievement of runner up in the NT Employer of the Year category.

Kylie Boyd, TCU’s HR Officer was also awarded runner up in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year category. This award recognises Kylie as an individual who has demonstrated excellence in her commitment towards her study of Certificate II and III in Financial Services.

Traditional Credit Union wins Indigenous Governance Award

The Traditional Credit Union has won the 2008 Reconciliation Australia Indigenous Governance Award for an organisation established for more than 10 years.

The Indigenous Governance Awards were created by Reconciliation Australia in partnership with BHP Billiton to identify, celebrate and promote effective Indigenous Governance. The national awards highlight success in Indigenous Australia - strong leadership, good management, effective partnerships and brave, creative thinking.

TCU Chairman Micky Wunungmurra and TCU General Manager Cathy Hunt attended the Indigenous Governance Awards in Melbourne on the 29th August 2008. The award was presented by the Federal Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin.

"We are absolutely thrilled to win this award", Mrs Hunt said. "This is a very welcome recognition of the challenging and sometimes difficult job we do".

"We will use the $10,000 prize to continue to improve TCU's governance standards," Mrs Hunt said.

NAB and Traditional Credit Union to expand Indigenous banking

The NAB and TCU have formed a partnership to help expand access to Financial Services for remote Indigenous people. The NAB will provide TCU with up to $1 million in interest free loan capital and additional funding to assist Traditional Credit Union Limited (TCU) expand its banking services for the Indigenous Communities.

Mr Ahmed Fahour, NAB Executive Director and CEO Australia, said that the NAB and TCU would work together to open new TCU branches in the Northern Territory and explore ways to help address the financial exclusion of Indigenous Australia.

"Indigenous Australians are the most financially excluded group in this country and there is a growing demand for basic financial services. This arrangement with the TCU is a critical step in demonstrating our long term commitment to the aspirations of Indigenous Australia", Mr Fahour said.

Under the arrangement, NAB will provide TCU with interest free loans of up to $1 million (with no fees or charges) to fund the opening of branches in remote locations in the Northern Territory, providing access to financial services for more than 3,250 Indigenous customers in the next five years.

Mrs Cathy Hunt, General Manager of TCU said that Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory had been asking for some time for the TCU to expand its branch footprint, but it had lacked sufficient capital base to do so.

"The costs to open new branches and the high costs of delivering financial services to remote areas has meant we haven't been able to expand as quickly as we would have liked. The arrangement with NAB removes some of those obstacles", Mrs Hunt said.

2008 CDU Scholarship Winners announced

The 2008 Winners of the TCU/CDU Indigenous Student Scholarships have been announced. The following students will receive funding from TCU to complete their studies during the 2008 academic year.

Sharratine Campbell (Darwin)
Benjamin Jones (Yirrkala)
Louise Poulson (Darwin)
Andrew McDonald (Katherine)
Latoya Wauchope (Croker Island)
Amber Munkara-Sweet (Darwin)