Social responsibility to be embedded in broking courses

According to Astute, the CSR program is designed to help broking businesses build their customer service skills, compliance standards, information technology platforms, marketing proficiency and environmental awareness.

AAMC Training Group national relationships manager Michelle Firth said that Cert IV students would be asked to develop their own corporate sustainability plan as part of the course and address how their business could be further involved in the community in areas such as fundraising, corporate sponsorship and protecting the environment.

“These are important aspects that can be overlooked in a business structure, and we believe it’s imperative for our students to be aware of them,” Ms Firth said.

“AAMC Training Group also has a CSR for the environment. We support carbon neutral with a pledge to plant a tree for each student undertaking one of our certified face-to-face and correspondence courses.”

Ms MacLeod added that Astute was committed to a CSR program which focuses on creating value through balancing the social, environmental and economic aspects of its business.

“We encourage our team to make a real and meaningful difference in the community and offer them volunteering days,” the founder said. “We believe this supports their growth, wellbeing, professional development and that it helps them extend their networks.

“Our CSR program is now on a digital platform and is ready for piloting. We have been promoting it with a variety of organisations with the aim of taking it to government level.”

Ms MacLeod also said that she was devoted to developing the School Entrepreneurs Program she established in conjunction with the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) to help improve financial literacy among Australian teenagers.

“I am also very passionate about corporate social responsibility and gender diversity,” the principal said.

“I think the financial services industry as a whole needs to be looking outside the square and connecting better with the community, especially with young people who are a new breed of employee and consumer.”

Ms MacLeod concluded: “If we’re to survive in the financial services industry, particularly in the aftermath of the Hayne royal commission, we must commit to social responsibility.

“Through the process of embracing social responsibility, we’ll also strengthen our industry, bolster our profile, improve public perception and attract future employees, brokers and clients.

“We should also be proactively promoting equality, opportunity, diversity and inclusion of women within our great industry and attracting more women to broking and developing them into industry leaders.”

[Related: New School Entrepreneurs Program rolled out to brokers]