G&C Mutual Bank is a proud supporter of the Australian Mutual Foundation (AMF), contributing by way of annual financial support, discretionary donations for disaster appeals, and through Board support. One of the primary aims of the AMF is to help alleviate poverty in some of the poorest communities in South-East Asia and the Pacific through the creation of sustainable cooperative financial organisations.
The AMF regularly offers scholarships for employees from the cooperative sector to attend the Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU) Development Education Workshop. Designed to foster the development of the next generation of leaders within the credit union and mutual banking space, the workshop educates on the value proposition of customer owned banks, the ways they can uniquely serve members and their communities, and the issues impacting the growth and viability of customer owned banks today. Ultimately, the workshop aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to become more effective advocates and leaders.
Kyle McKinstry, Marketing Specialist at G&C Mutual Bank, was recently selected as a recipient of one of these scholarships. He joined participants from Australia, Indonesia, Nepal, and the Philippines to participate in the 33rd Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU) Development Education Workshop.
Kyle said, “The workshop was such an incredibly valuable learning opportunity. I feel I’ve gained a much better understanding of the value proposition and issues facing mutual banks. The workshop really reignited my passion for continuing to develop myself and further advocate and innovate for the benefit of our members and their communities.”
Over the duration of the intensive course held from the 11th to 17th of June 2023, Kyle gained valuable insights into the foundations of the customer owned banking philosophy, the unique challenges facing mutual banks and valuable developmental training in leadership and public speaking.
Upon his return, Kyle has already begun sharing these insights with his peers, helping to foster a deeper appreciation and understanding of the roles we all play in enriching the lives of others, our members and the communities in which we live and work.
About the Australian Mutuals Foundation
The primary purpose of the AMF is to provide a vehicle for mutual banks, credit unions, building societies and cooperative banks to assist needy children in Australia and to alleviate poverty in some of the poorest communities in South-East Asia and the Pacific by the creation of sustainable cooperative financial organisations, and to provide a mechanism for donations to assist those affected by natural disasters.
About the Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU)
In its role as a regional organisation for credit unions, ACCU performs representation, development, liaison and coordination functions on behalf of the Asian credit union movements. It also provides members and potential members services in long and short-term technical assistance, training, and information. The Asian Development Education Program started in 1999 and is designed to develop leadership, presentation and communication skills to help in building solid financial cooperatives for the community.
