The financial advisor who has helped women in North East Victoria recover after they have got out of domestic violence relationships will be part of extending that support across Australia.
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Sharon Walker, a senior financial planner at NAB Wangaratta, was this week named the winner of the AFA Female Excellence in Advice Award.
What separated her from the other two finalists was her oustanding work with Women’s Health Goulburn North East and the organisation’s No Interest Loan Scheme.
For the past five years Mrs Walker has used her volunteer days offered by the bank to help guide women who have been left without access to funds after leaving a violent partner.
“Quite often the domestic violence is not just the physical and mental violence, it’s also financial abuse,” she said.
“There’s so many times when you look at them and really feel for those people.”
AFA awards judge Dianne Charman said Mrs Walker’s work with the loan scheme in her community separated her from other finalists.
“That put her as an outstanding contributor in advice,” she said.
“Domestic violence is one of the issues that we’ve identified for early next year.”
The AFA plans to help more women around the country looking to get their lives back on track after leaving domestic violence situations.
Ms Charman said the association would leverage off Mrs Walker’s expertise, including her in a working group on the issue.
The financial advisor went through a rigorous process as one of three finalists before being named the national winner.
This included making submissions and a presentation as part of an interview with judges in Sydney.
“She’s done really well Sharon, she’s an excellent person,” Ms Charman said.
She said the AWA awards are also important in addressing equality issues in the pay gap and superannuation.
“That’s why we put this award together, women are not ones to promote themselves.” she said.
