Good Shepherd Microfinance is Australia’s largest microfinance organisation. We offer a range of people-centred, affordable financial programs for people on low incomes at different financial stages of their lives.

Our aim, together with those of our community partners, is to enable clients to realise their own economic wellbeing, as they define it themselves, through appropriate financial services. As a result, people feel valued, accepted, included and in control of their own finances and lives.

About us

PURPOSETo enable economic wellbeing and resilience for people on low incomes, especially women and girls

VISIONFullness of life for all people,living in connected resilientcommunities

VALUESHuman dignity, respect, socialjustice, audacity, compassion and reconciliation

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) is a community based program providing access to fair and safe credit (up to $1,200).

StepUP provides low interest loans for personal or household purposes to people on low incomes (from $800 to $3,000).

Good Money is a pilot program delivering financial services through community finance stores in Victoria & South Australia.

AddsUP supports people on low incomes to develop financial independence through a matched savings incentive ($500).

Good Insurance is a community business partnership focused on developing insurance products for people on low incomes.

Good Energy seeks to work with energy retailers and governments to reduce energy related hardship among people on low incomes.

Programs

Good Energy

Our microfinance programs are offered in 669 locations by 247 local community providers.

“Be absolutely fair in your dealings” – St Mary Euphrasia

Good InsuranceAccess and uptake of insurance is low amongst people on low incomes. The table below shows the proportion of the adult Australian population who do not have general insurance (either vehicle insurance, building insurance, or contents insurance). Total

Population Aged 18+

Individual Income under $15,000

Individual Income $15,000 to $19,999

Individual Income $20,000 to $24,999

Individual Income $25,000 to $29,999

General insurance

19.5% 33.2% 25.2% 25.5% 21.1%

Source: ‘Measuring Financial Exclusion In Australia’ The Centre for Social Impact for National Australia Bank June 2013. Roy Morgan Research 2012

The objective of Good Insurance is to address this current issue of non-insurance via:Improved and trusted access to insurance via the Good Shepherd Microfinance’s comprehensive national provider network.Improved affordability of insurance products. Improved suitability of products by developing products that fit consumer need.Improved understanding of insurance products and their associated documentation by providing product materials that are concise and in ‘plain English’.

Partnership with Suncorp

As part of the Good Insurance program, Good Shepherd Microfinance (GSM) has entered into a partnership with Suncorp.

The first initiative under this alliance was a pilot utilising AAMI’s existing Fire & Theft Home Contents Insurance product and selected GSM provider locations.

Launched in August 2014, the pilot provided valuable insights relating to the customer/provider experience, overall product appetite, and the preferred product attributes/features/needs (e.g. pricing, coverage, excess, payment options, etc.).

These learnings greatly assisted GSM and Suncorp with the next phase of the partnership – the development of a safe, affordable, and tailored product for people on low incomes – Essentials by AAI.