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Financial inclusion

The goal of the Brotherhood's financial inclusion research is to promote social inclusion in Australia by demonstrating effective programs for disadvantaged people, and to advocate for universal access to mainstream, affordable and appropriate financial services. Current projects include:

Financial needs across the life course

This research used the life transitions approach to explore how economically and socially disadvantaged groups deal with the specific financial needs related to the move from school to work, being unemployed, becoming a parent, and retirement and ageing.

Report and summary

Zuleika Arashiro 2011, Money matters in times of change: financial vulnerability through the life course (PDF file, 654 KB), Summary (PDF file, 100 KB)

Financial Health Services Pilot evaluation

Funded by the Consumer Credit Fund, this study is the evaluation component of the Financial Health Services Pilot Project, a one-on-one, preventative financial information and guidance service piloted by the Brotherhood's Financial Inclusion Services during 2010.

Report and summary

Zuleika Arashiro 2011, Promoting healthy finances: an evaluation of the Financial Health Service pilot (PDF file, 1.3 MB), Summary (PDF file, 103 KB)

Saver Plus social dimensions

Contact: Eve Bodsworth ebodsworth@nullbsl.org.au

Saver Plus is a matched savings program designed by the Brotherhood and ANZ to assist families with low incomes to develop a savings habit and to build assets. This small qualitative study explored the social and economic context in which the participants attempted to save money and manage their finances. It also shed light on the constraints to saving faced by individuals and families. It complements the evaluation work undertaken by RMIT University.

Report and summary

Eve Bodsworth 2011, Many faces of saving: the social dimensions of Saver Plus (PDF file, 331 KB)
Summary (PDF file, 387 KB) also includes summary of RMIT research report Evaluation of Saver Plus past participants

Customer experience of Progress Loans

The Brotherhood and ANZ commissioned Vawser and Associates to evaluate the Progress Loans program which offered small personal loans to enable people on low incomes to make important household purchases. The research, including structured phone interviews and focus groups of borrowers, indicated high customer satisfaction and an increased level of pride and self-confidence in having a good track record with a major bank.

Report

Vawser and Associates 2009, Progress Loans: towards affordable credit for low-income Australians (PDF file, 818 KB)

Increasing insurance among low-income Australians

Fire, theft, accidents and other damage to property and vehicles can all have severe and long-lasting financial and emotional impact for low-income Australians, who can ill afford to repair or replace their car or household items. Yet many of these people cannot or do not protect their assets with insurance. This research project investigated ways to increase insurance cover of low-income Australians by removing barriers and contributing to the design of products suited to their needs.

Report and summary

Dominic Collins 2011, Reducing the risks: improving access to home contents and vehicle insurance for low-income Australians (PDF file, 443 KB), Summary (PDF file, 109 KB)

Afghan and Burmese experiences of finances in Australia

Cross-cultural understanding is vital for the effective provision of financial information. This new research project adopts a participatory approach to explore the cultural meanings and practices which Afghan and Burmese communities apply to finances, and how they are experiencing the Australian financial system. It is funded by Consumer Affairs Victoria through the Consumer Credit Fund.