Women’s finance pain

Thankfully, they have experts like Sharon Walker to help.

Mrs Walker, a senior financial planner at NAB Wangaratta, has been named as one of three national finalists in the AFA Female Excellence in Advice Award.

“Quite often the domestic violence is not just the physical and mental violence, it’s also financial abuse,” she said.

She said this means many women are left without access to funds after they leave a violent partner.

Mrs Walker used her volunteer days offered by the bank to join up five years ago with the No Interest Loan Scheme run by Women’s Health Goulburn North East.

She helps women across the region, from Deniliquin to Bright.

Since 2007, WHGNE has written more than 300 loans totalling more than $400,000 that women have used for furniture, vehicle repairs, educational and medical costs.

The program also advises women on how to budget their finances and save on bank and ATM fees, electricity bills, and cut out items such as a coffee bought from a cafe every day.

Mrs Walker said some women become so desperate they go to expensive pay lenders for help, when they can make a difference themselves.

She said there are many financial planners like herself who want to help.

“There’s so many times when you look at them and really feel for those people,” she said.

Ms Walker was nominated for the award by another financial planner at the bank and survived a two-day masterclass as one of six semi-finalists before being named a finalist.

WHGNE microfinance project worker Karen O’Connor said Mrs Walker’s five years of dedication had been invaluable.

“Sharon has shown a commitment to working towards gender equity and is very aware that women experience financial disadvantage far more often than men,” she said.

“By supporting the NILS program, Sharon is supporting a vital tool for early intervention and financial capacity building for women experiencing social and economic disadvantage.”

The AFA Female Excellence in Advice Award winner will be named on October 27 in Cairns.