{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.bankaust.com.au/blog/{{slug}}" }, "headline": "{{title}}", "description": "{{desc}}", "image": "{{image}}", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Bank Australia", "url": "https://www.bankaust.com.au/" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Bank Australia", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64d5d5beb2a67e9491ecdff8/64d5d5beb2a67e9491ece00c_BA-logo-white.webp" } }, "datePublished": "{{datePublished}}", "dateModified": "{{dateModified}}" }
Alert notice

10 September 2025 – Targeted SMS impersonation scams. We’re aware of scam SMS messages impersonating Bank Australia using personal details and fake passcodes to trick customers. Learn more

2022-10-07 2:57 pm
Back to blog
Impact

Meet the organisation empowering Australia’s future female changemakers

Photo journal

After working in refugee settlement services, Kim Rollason-Nokes started to see a pattern. While there were plenty of community opportunities for young men, young women were often left behind. Especially 15- to 25-year-olds from migrant families.

“They had huge responsibilities at home, caring for siblings or parents with trauma, being the interpreter, doing the housework, while still trying to finish high school or move into higher education,” Kim says. “We weren’t doing enough to support these young women through the whole life experience.”

In 2017, Kim decided to do something to help women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, so she founded Ethni: a not-for-profit designed to arm young women with the skills they need to thrive.

Ethni’s programs include wellbeing and safety, support for mental health, domestic and family violence, training and development pathways, and advocacy work, which gives young women a platform to push for change. This includes opportunities to go into schools to talk about racism, discrimination and gender equality.

“They’ve been welcomed by the students and the teachers, who have often been quite shocked that things like racism and discrimination are still happening,” Kim explains. “Everyone’s responsible for learning about their own privileges, and how they can take actions every day to make other people feel more welcome and included.”

Kim wanted Ethni to provide support on a longer-term basis, rather than a short ‘check box’ program. She wanted the women, who are primarily from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds, to stay with the organisation for as long as they needed.

“It’s about looking at what these young women need so that they can thrive in the rest of their lives,” says Kim. “Many of them are coming into adulthood or transitioning through the education system into careers. A lot of the time they’re also navigating traditional cultural and family expectations, and forming their identity as a young person in Australia.”

Ethni are recipients of Bank Australia’s Impact Fund, which has enabled Kim and the team to run their Future Female Changemakers program.

“This leadership program is about giving our young women the fundamental tools and skills that they need to be able to go out and lead the change, whether that’s in school, workplaces or communities,” explains Kim. “This is how we help our young emerging leaders thrive.”

While many funding bodies provide financial assistance, Kim’s experience of our Impact Fund was different.

“It’s been a really beautiful partnership,” she says. “Working with Cecilia and the Impact Fund team has been amazing; they’ve given us the space to learn from what’s gone well, and then look at what we can improve.”

Bank Australia staff have even worked as mentors to the women in the Changemakers program.

“It hasn’t just funded a program,” Kim says. “It’s given us the opportunity to explore what’s possible for us as an organisation, and how we can have the greatest impact for our young women.”

Read more about our incredible Impact Fund recipients here.

Related stories

Impact

We’re flying high: supporting the Australian Bird of the Year 2025

Together with our customers, we’re committed to protecting nature and biodiversity. Now we’re taking that love of nature to new heights by supporting Australian Bird of the Year 2025 – bringing favourite birds to the public consciousness and inspiring action to protect them.

Impact

Episode  - “I’m in the right place.” Accessible Homes Australia is creating beautiful, safe homes for people with disability

On the northern tip of the Gold Coast, Hope Island is a purpose-built housing project that exemplifies inclusive, accessible living. Learn how Accessible Homes Australia (AHA), with the backing of Bank Australia, is helping revolutionise specialist disability accommodation in Australia.

Watch - 2 mins

Impact

How does rewilding in Australia actually work? The Forktree Project explains

On South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, up to 90% of native habitat has been lost since colonisation. Through grassroots rewilding initiative The Forktree Project – a Bank Australia community customer grant recipient – environmental scientist Tim Jarvis is determined to change that, one seed at a t

Impact

How to stay warm (and keep bills down) this winter

Feel like you’re constantly trying to stay ahead of the chill in your home? You’re not alone. Whether you’re renting, renovating or just trying to cut costs, here are an expert’s practical tips on staying warm and saving energy this winter.

Impact

‘I absolutely love where I live’: how accessibility and location matter to Shanon

Moving into a thoughtfully designed and purpose-built apartment has been ‘an absolute game changer’ for Shanon, a resident at AccessAccom’s Specialist Disability Housing (SDA) apartments in Woolooware, Sydney.

Impact

Big news: announcing our 2025 community customer grant recipients

At Bank Australia, we believe in the power of community. Every year, our Community Customer Grant Program supports customers making a positive impact within our key impact areas