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Your Credit Union
has a Global Impact
Your Board of Directors is proud to advise members that the
Credit Union has become a Platinum sponsor of Credit Union
Foundation Australia (CUFA).
CUFA is the development agency for the Australian Credit
Union Movement. CUFA has both a domestic and international
development focus in its activities.
Domestic: supports Australian credit unions to achieve and
promote sustainable corporate, economic, social and environmental
practice. To focus on community advocacy and education - credit
union positioning through corporate social responsibility.
International: programs focus on development of access to
financial services for disadvantaged communities of the South
East Asia and Pacific regions.
The Australian Credit Union Movement is part of a worldwide
credit union movement - aligned under the International Credit
Union Operating Principles.
www.cufa.com.au
CUFA’s New Patron
By His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
 I
am delighted to have become Patron of the Credit Union Foundation
Australia (CUFA), an organisation which has done much to promote
the sustainable development of our country and our region.
Access to affordable financial services is taken for granted
by most Australians. The ability to access funds in times
of financial or personal need, to grow by applying funds to
the development of new services and products, and the independence
and self-esteem gained from repaying debts is essential to
the health of communities across the Pacific.
Yet through my own experience since the 1960s in the Pacific,
and in reviewing CUFA’s work, there are many places
in our region where entire communities are disenfranchised
through their lack of access to basic financial services.
CUFA’s projects in Cambodia, Fiji, Tuvalu, Sri Lanka
and the Solomon Islands are all playing a vital role in building
the communities of those countries. In Cambodia for example,
85% of the population lives in rural areas and the overwhelming
majority have almost no access to financial services. CUFA
is helping these people to develop the skills to develop and
manage their own micro enterprise activity. In Sri Lanka,
a country still recovering from the 2004 tsunami, CUFA is
supporting a loan pool focused on generating income for women
and families.
CUFA’s work in Australia helps individuals develop
their financial literacy skills, and advocates the delivery
of financial services which meet international standards for
Corporate Social Responsibility.
And CUFA is also training the next generation of advocates
through Development Education workshops with people from across
Australia and the Pacific. Through these efforts, the good
work of CUFA in building the financial capacity of communities
will continue for many years to come.
As Patron, I support this work which benefits both our country
and our region by offering greater opportunities for all.
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