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Are you looking for financial freedom?
The Women’s Money Series Breakfast 2023 hosted by Wesley Mission will inspire you to take control of your financial future. It features special guest speaker Julia Newbould, author of The Joy of Money and Managing Editor of Conexus Financial.
Thursday, 4 May 2023
7.30 – 9am
$95, includes hot breakfast and a complimentary copy of The Joy of Money
Knowledgeable financial advice
The Women’s Money Series Breakfast 2023 will give you the opportunity to learn from four financially savvy women who have the knowledge and experience to help shape your financial future. Receive advice, tips, and tactics to enhance your financial wellbeing. Learn how to plan for increasing living expenses and discuss the financial matters affecting women today with a group of like-minded people. Register now to secure your spot!
Connect with financial experts and other like-minded people.
Improve your long-term financial literacy and wellbeing.
If you’re searching for a system for managing your money, career, family, relationships, investments, superannuation, insurance, Wills and retirement – this event is for you.
Our guest speakers
Julia Newbould
Author, The Joy of Money and Managing Editor, Conexus Financial
Julia Newbould - Keynote Speaker
Author, The Joy of Money and Managing Editor, Conexus Financial
Julia Newbould is Managing Editor at Conexus Financial. She’s contributed to and led editorial and content teams for financial services publications over a 20-year career as a senior editor and journalist and has built a strong reputation for knowledge and understanding, particularly in the areas of financial planning, superannuation, wraps and platforms and self-managed super funds (MSFs).
Prior to her role at Conexus, Julia was editor of Money magazine – Australia’s most read personal finance magazine started by former financial analyst, Paul Clitheroe. This title was a great reminder of what consumers are really concerned about. In 2021, she launched the podcast Friends with Money and was the face of the publication through podcasts, webcasts, radio and morning television.
Julia is also expert in online media – writing, production and delivery – working on start-ups and other websites since 2000. She is also a highly experienced conference moderator, speaker and video interviewer.
Julia was a co-founder and head of The Stella Network, an inclusive female network founded by BT Financial Group in October 2013 to increase the number of females working as financial advisers. This group is now run by Conexus.
Samantha Vandall
Wesley Financial Counsellor
Samantha Vandall
Samantha Vandall has been helping people facing financial hardship to regain control of their finances as a Wesley Financial Counsellor since September 2020.
Prior to her role as a financial counsellor, Samantha was a Community Development Worker for six years at the Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre, supporting people through their No Interest Loan Scheme hotline. When asked to complete Wesley Mission’s Financial Literacy Education Program, ‘In Charge of My Money’ by her manager, Samantha was inspired to switch career paths.
Passionate about empowering people to make healthy choices with their money, Samantha supports people in financial stress to get out of debt and provides them with the financial literacy tools and skills to help them build strong financial futures.
Virginia Heyer
Managing Director, StrategyOne Advice Network
Virginia Heyer
Virginia Heyer is the Managing Director of StrategyOne Advice Network, a highly successful financial planning firm with representation in Sydney’s north and eastern suburbs and the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia.
She started her career with Bain & Co., eventually completing a management buyout of the Sydney business. Since that time she has successfully built the business through both organic growth and M&A.
Virginia has worked through and led her firm through almost the entire development and evolution of the financial planning industry in Australia including the significant raft or regulatory change the industry has seen.
Virginia is highly regarded as an innovative and dynamic business owner, continuously assisting individuals, families and entrepreneurs achieve their financial and strategic goals.
Sarah Forman
Group Executive Director, Aware Super
Sarah Forman
Sarah Forman was appointed Group Executive, Advice at Aware Super in October 2019.
Prior to this Sarah has a career spanning over 35 years in financial services including roles in Wealth management, Financial Advice, Operations, Marketing, Product and Program Management. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in economics and government, Sydney University, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Sarah has a passion for helping more Australians have access to the education, guidance and financial advice they need to feel confident and achieve their best financial future and retirement.
Grow and give back
As part of this incredible event, you’ll support Wesley Mission’s early intervention financial literacy programs. Our programs give at-risk women and men the skills and confidence they need to make informed and effective money management decisions and build financially stable futures. Find out how we supported Lucy* find freedom from debt.
Read Lucy’s story
Click here to read Lucy's story
Help someone like Lucy find freedom from debt
Every fortnight Lucy* had a deficit of $700. Struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table for her two children, Lucy couldn’t keep up with the payments on her five loans.
Lucy admits, “I have an unhealthy relationship with money.” She now recognises her experiences have played a part in her financial insecurity.
Battling with a gambling addiction, Lucy was regularly behind on her bills. So, she took payday, buy now and pay later loans, as well as a loan from her ex-partner’s parents, for a quick fix. While the loans weren’t large amounts, together the five loans amounted to $3000.
“For her that three grand snowed her under,” explains Samantha, Wesley Financial Counsellor. “It was too hard to keep up with. From her point of view, it was overwhelming."
Trapped in the darkness
But when she started to experience domestic violence at the hands of her ex-partner, her financial situation, as well as her life, took a turn for the worse. Because she was employed by her ex-partner’s parents, she couldn’t make a clean break. And when she finally escaped her violent home and job, she was left with no income.While Lucy received Centrelink payments, it wasn’t enough for her to survive on, let alone pay her debt. She was scared, alone and worried she would never find her way out of the darkness.
Finding the light
Lucy’s life turned around when she was referred to Wesley Financial Counselling and met Samantha, who immediately organised for Lucy to receive Wesley Mission’s Escaping Violence Payment – her first step towards financial freedom.
Recognising her own unhealthy relationship with money, Lucy shared with Samantha she was finally ready and willing make changes to her financial habits.
“Lucy was clear that she struggles with budgeting. She gets quite anxious around money and there's some longer-term habits that have built up,” explains Samantha.
“She was so direct about what she wanted. I felt like her capacity to advocate for herself was quite high.”
So, when Samantha offered Lucy the opportunity to take charge of her finances by negotiating with creditors for better payment plans, Lucy took it.
Knowing she could lean on Samantha filled Lucy with courage. She successfully negotiated improved payment plans for three of her five loans. Samantha then stepped in to negotiate the fourth debt and is currently negotiating a payment plan with Lucy’s ex-partner’s parents.
For Lucy, knowing she could reach out to Samantha for support, made all the difference.
“I really couldn't have done it if Samantha hadn't been there behind the scenes,” Lucy says. “Having that support there from Wesley Financial Counselling is what helped me make these choices. Thank you for providing me with a sense of grounding and security.”
And when Lucy ran out of money to pay for food in January 2023, Lucy felt comfortable to turn to Samantha for support. Samantha immediately reached out to Wesley Emergency Services who gave food vouchers to Lucy that same day.
“After walking to every possible place for help… I was in a state of panic,” Lucy says. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for offering me immediate support when in crisis.”
Turning lives around through generosity
Because of generous supporters like you, Wesley Mission can offer free financial support to people in crisis – like Lucy – and wraparound services to help get their lives back on track.
Two months on, Lucy’s financial situation has improved dramatically, and she no longer feels trapped by debt.
“She came out of the messy month of January really in a really good position. All her debts are either cleared or have more affordable arrangements that are manageable for her,” says Samantha. “So, I’m quite proud of her.”
Now that her debt is manageable, Lucy is looking forward to working with Samantha to learn how to better manage her finances in the future. She’s also studying a community services course and is making plans to start rehabilitation for her gambling addiction.
Your tax-deductible donation can help more people like Lucy find financial freedom and build brighter futures.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
We can't wait to see you there!
Places for this incredible event will sell out fast.
For more information or enquiries, contact partnerships@wesleymission.org.au
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Wesley Mission is endorsed by the ATO with Charity Number ABN 42 164 655 145 and donations of two dollars or more are tax deductible for the donor.
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