Saver Plus, Australia’s longest running financial education program, celebrated 20 years of successfully building thousands of lifelong savings habits at the Melton Town Hall on November 1.
Established by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL) and ANZ and supported by The Smith Family and Berry Street, Saver Plus helps lower income Australians to build financial skills and confidence and receive up to $500 matched savings for education costs for themselves or their families.
In the Hawke electorate 680 participants have saved $313,522.20 and gained invaluable financial literacy skills.
Bacchus Marsh participant Jan said when you don’t have enough money long-term you begin to question the point of saving.
“Saver Plus taught me that I can save $500 in 10 months, without having a fulltime job,” He said.
The Saver Plus initiative has elevated the financial wellbeing score of participants by an average of 77 per cent to 64 – higher than the Australia average of 59.
BSL executive director Travers McLeod said he’s incredibly proud of the positive difference Saver Plus has made over the past 20 years.
“It has become a lifelong resource for improved financial wellbeing and confidence for so many Australians and helped to ease the stress of educational expenses, especially those very daunting back-to-school costs,” he said.
“We’re excited about growing the impact of Saver Plus even more in the years to come.”
Hawke MP Sam Rae said the federal government’s number one priority remains addressing the cost of living challenge.
“That’s why I support Saver Plus, to help locals save money,” he said.
“Jan and Gaurav are two of the 680 people in Hawke who’ve saved more than $313,000 thanks to this partnership with the Albanese Government.”
