Berry Street Web Docs Annual Report 2010 | Page 26

Promoting
25

financial inclusion

Having sufficient income to meet basic household
needs is critical if families are to care for their
children properly.
Our financial counsellors in the North & West
helped 533 people and we provided emergency
relief to 800 people.
We were pleased that the Federal Government
recognised the value of Saver Plus, a matched
savings program developed by ANZ and the
Brotherhood of St Laurence. Funding from the
Department of Families, Housing, Community
Services and Indigenous Affairs enabled us to
extend from four to ten sites, where we ran
438 workshops.

Edwina was able to save $500 which was matched
by ANZ. She used it to pay for tutoring for her
son, with his acceptance into Melbourne High
as a just reward.

Natasha, a single mother, works part-time as
a cashier in a local petrol station. Through Saver
Plus, she developed an interest in finance and
has enrolled in a Diploma of Accounting at TAFE.