Impact for Purpose

IBA’s impact reports guide and inform to deliver against the 2028 strategy for supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is a critical piece of the puzzle that helps us understand how we can drive positive change by investing with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customers for generations to come. We released our 3rd report on 17 April with a focus on the experiences and the impact that home ownership has had on First Nations single parent and single carer families.

?THE FACTS

Many families struggle with getting into home ownership and with housing being a key determinant for health, it’s crucial to be able to have a roof over your head. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face a range of issues that prevent access to affordable housing that is adequate, safe, and sustainable.

?Of the 6.7 million families in Australia, 4.2% are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. More than a third of these (97,000) are single families. With this, overcrowding increases, making household members further susceptible to issues such as diseases, psychological distress and other health and wellbeing issues.

?In addition to all the challenges above, mob also face negative stigma and discrimination especially in the private rental market. Leading to many families having difficulties finding sustainable housing and security for their families.

?This report is part of our impact series and targeted IBA home loan customers who are single carers and single parents. This group of homeowners represents 1 in 5 home loan customers who shared their stories, experiences and insights.

?With the information provided, IBA officially launched our report in Perth on Whadjuk Noongar Country surrounded by customers, staff and families who shared their stories, journeys, experiences, and celebrated milestones. We had a panel of deadly women including our Executive Director, Strategy & Impact, Kia Dowell, who moderated the discussion with Renarta Coyne (homeowner), Lilly Stanton (homeowner/IBA), and June Edwards (IBA). The panel also reflected the report’s reality that over 84% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander single parent and families are women.

?MY STORY

As a member of IBA’s communications team, I was lucky enough to attend and share this experience (& the work I do) with my mum who raised my siblings and I as a single parent for most of my life. We never had stable housing nor the support we needed. Which made it difficult growing up and holding the extra burden that many people couldn’t understand. Especially for my mum who had the heavy sole responsibility of caring for my siblings and I on top of the many other challenges and responsibilities that single parents and carers face.?

?Our only stability and support were each other. Reading the report made me realise that I was not alone in my story and journey. That this report is not only a testament to the change it’s making within community but the change it’s making in all of us.

?This report is personal to me because it demonstrates the determination, resilience, and staunchness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. How through hardship and many challenges we continue to strive for better for ourselves, community, and families.

?With this report being personal to me, it made me reflect on this year’s NRW theme: Now more than ever. Change doesn’t happen overnight, my mum’s journey to home ownership is an example to that. My life is an example of that. All our customers are example of that. We are the example; we are the excellence; we are the impact.

Being able to share such an important moment with my mum feels like a full circle moment. As she is recently a homeowner, I can see the impact it’s made on my little sister who now is able to grow up in a stable home and have the opportunities I never did.

CHANGE THE NARRATIVE

At the event it reminded me of the importance of truth-telling and what we do here at IBA. Truth-telling allows us to break generational curses and rebuild what we have lost. It’s the ability to continue culture and learn from our history. The report shows the impact of our support and the change these families are making. It is important especially now more than ever to provide support to First Nations communities. By being that support we can create change and impact for future generations.

I feel honoured to be a part of something greater than myself and to share this experience with my very own single parent. Although this event was to showcase the impact of home ownership to mob who are single carers and parents. It was also to celebrate the amazing people and customers on this journey and within our community.? Because this journey is not an easy one.

If I could sum up the event in one word it would be Yindyamarra. It is a Wiradjuri word that reflects the Wiradjuri way of living. It is where you move through life speaking with kindness and gentleness – by living life slowly and at your own pace.

Our launch event demonstrated how impacting community creates a ripple effect for future generations to be able to have more options and opportunities by encouraging intergenerational wealth and changing the narrative to success. Our panel and the conversations with those at the event reflected Yindyamarra that your journey is your own and by taking a step, you move forward.

Overall, the event and our report can be reflected in the title of this article. Impact for purpose. Whatever the journey for our customers and whoever is reading this right now, you should reflect on the impact you’re making and what drives you to do and be better, not only for yourself but for your community.

When you impact for purpose, you impact for change, and you change the lives of those around you.

Read more on IBA’s impact report here: Leave us your details and receive the IBA Impact Report 2023 - Indigenous Business Australia

ABOUT THE STORYTELLER

Zenae Powell is a proud Wiradjuri woman living on Dharug Country and working on both the lands of the Gadigal and Dharug nations. As part of IBA’s communications team, she contributes to the invaluable work IBA does to share our stories with community. Zenae is studying a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Indigenous Studies and Public Relations at Macquarie University.