Strong communities

Community-led solutions build the financial confidence, resilience and wellbeing of Australians.  

Research shows that access to tailored support and information on financial and money matters can be an important influence on financial wellbeing. 

We collaborate with stakeholders and partners to identify and understand community issues and needs, funding initiatives and research to: 

  • Help organisations deliver tailored financial capability programs and solutions (including at scale)

  • Better understand behaviours and drivers of specific groups

  • Contribute to the evidence base of ‘what works’ in improving financial wellbeing

Our work ensures that more community organisations are empowered to meet the needs of consumers facing barriers to access to information and support, helping them to make more informed decisions and build their financial wellbeing. 

Below is a selection of current and completed grants addressing individual and community financial programs. 

Building Community Financial Capability

Ecstra has invested $1 million to build communities across Australia.

Ecstra has invested $1 million to build communities across Australia.

In 2020 Ecstra empowered 10 Community Foundations with $100,000 each to create and scale initiatives which address issues of financial exclusion and economic equality in their communities. These grants acknowledged Community Foundations’ unique ability to execute whole of community projects and to create long term impact through local projects.

Christians Against Poverty

Practical financial education tools for communities

Building on learnings from the initial Money Program, funded by Ecstra, Christians Against Poverty delivered financial education, information and mentoring for community members in financial distress.

Ecstra’s funding enabled 100 Church-based volunteers trained as ‘Money Mentors’ to support people already accessing church-run community services. This included financial mentoring and referrals to other financial support services.

Sep 2021 - Oct 2022

Good Shepherd Microfinance

Financial Inclusion Action Plan (FIAP) Program

The FIAP Program has a bold future vision for an Australia where individuals and families are able to realise their potential and thrive. Connecting with others and having access to resources and tools to help build financial resilience and wellbeing is central to achieving this vision. In Phase One (2015-2018) the FIAP Program enabled 30 organisations (Trailblazers) to take 580+ actions to improve financial inclusion, resilience and wellbeing for their customers, employees and the wider community. By the end of Phase Two (2024) the ambition is to work with more than 100 member organisations, collectively reaching almost 350,000 employees and 1.7 million customers deemed most ‘at-risk’ of experiencing financial vulnerability.

Ecstra was the Principal Supporter for the transition through Phase Two of the FIAP Program. The program aligns with Ecstra’s commitment to support and grow cross sector collaboration, to build on the evidence base of “what works” in financial capability approaches, and to achieve improved outcomes for consumers, including FIAP Program member employees.

Jul 2019 - Dec 2020

The Funding Network

Pitch-coaching workshops

Ecstra teamed up with The Funding Network (TFN) to offer free pitch-coaching workshops to our community partners.

TFN helps build the financial capacity and sustainability of non profits and social enterprises. Their innovative and interactive workshops provide community leaders with practical tools and skills for storytelling and fundraising.

This partnership provided opportunities for Ecstra grantees and TFN’s alumni to share outcomes and build networks with sector peers.

Jul 2020 - Jul 2021

Redfern Legal Centre

Financial Abuse Legal Service NSW

Redfern Legal Centre’s (RLC) Financial Abuse Service NSW is supporting victim-survivors of financial abuse through an innovative state wide service.

Ecstra and RLC’s partnership over four years supports their sector leading policy and community education work, integrated with frontline legal advice services.

RLC advocates for policy and law reform to improve outcomes for victim-survivors and guides government and industry responses to family and domestic violence, contributing its expertise to state and national advisory groups, roundtables and panels.

RLC also brings together over 20 organisations through its coordination of the Economic Abuse Reference Group (EARG), to share their work and collaborate across sectors and states.

2019 - ongoing