Aussie opens the door to opportunities for women

It’s no secret that women often have what it takes to enjoy success in mortgage broking. And as Aussie’s record-breaking financial year continues, women across the network are benefitting from a range of support to reach their full potential. 

Bucking the industry trend

Aussie’s numbers speak for themselves. Today, around one in three Aussie brokers are women, compared to the industry average of 26%. Among brokers who have been with Aussie for over 20 years, numbers are split 50:50 between men and women, and in 2020, women accounted for 40% of new franchisees who opened their own Aussie store. 

Aussie’s support for female talent extends to its own in-house team, where 53% of employees are women.

The upshot is that in an often male-dominated finance industry, Aussie is bucking the trend and opening doors for women to be the best they can be. It’s being achieved through a range of initiatives, from Aussie’s leading induction program through to ongoing mentoring and Aussie’s newly revamped Learning and Development program – Aussie Academy, which can be tailored to an individual’s chosen pathway. 

Lynda Harris, Chief People and Culture Officer at Aussie says, “Aussie is passionate about supporting Aussie women with their personal and professional goals. With so many of our top performing brokers being female, we are committed to enabling more women to thrive in this industry.” 

Ms Harris adds that women in the broking industry have a unique advantage in that they, “have a natural ability and desire to offer help and problem solve – and that puts women in the ideal position to be highly respected and relatable with their customers.”

“A very rewarding industry”

At age 25, April Parker is demonstrating just how successful women can be as an Aussie Broker.  

April joined the team at Aussie Springfield Central (near Brisbane) in 2017 as an admin assistant while completing a Bachelor of Business. 

April soon realised that broking offers big opportunities, and with the support of store owner and franchisee – Joel Cryer, she completed Aussie’s induction training, becoming an accredited broker in early 2019. 

That’s quite a leap forward for a woman in her early 20s, and April has never looked back.

“This is a very rewarding industry,” April says. “As a mortgage broker I am making a real difference to people’s lives by helping them achieve goals like buying a first home or saving money through refinancing. It’s a great feeling to support my customers this way.”

April says the mentoring she has received from Joel has been incredibly valuable. “Joel worked alongside me for at least a year, helping me develop my loan writing skills. That’s been a tremendous plus when it comes to working with a wide variety of customers – I always feel confident no matter whether I’m helping first home buyers or experienced property investors.”

After just two years as an Aussie Broker, April is currently settling around $2 million worth of home loans each month. That puts her among the top achievers, and it saw April take out Aussie’s Emerging Broker award for QLD in 2020. To back it up, she won the same award for the second quarter of 2020/21.

“I’m excited to see where my Aussie journey takes me”

Monique Daniels is another Aussie Broker who is showcasing the exciting opportunities available to women through Aussie. 

Monique joined franchisee Diana Andrew in the Aussie Tewantin store on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in 2018 aged just 18. Initially starting out as admin support, Monique’s ability soon shone through, and recognising a broker-in-the-making, Diana encouraged Monique to consider a future as an Aussie Broker.

Today, Monique is a fully-fledged broker. Looking back, she says, “The training I received as part of Aussie’s induction process was really helpful. The trainers were all incredibly supportive, and we were encouraged to contact them at any time if we had questions or needed a little extra support.”

Monique’s learning hasn’t ended with induction. She found a natural fit with Diana Andrew as her mentor, and she has been attending Aussie’s Quarterly Business Forums (QBFs), which Monique says “have really helped develop my skills to support better outcomes for my customers.”

Aussie’s “Lunch and Learn events”, where brokers hear about lender product updates, are another of Monique’s favourites. She explains, “The Lunch and Learns are a chance to hear about updates direct from lenders’ representatives, and explore new products to better understand how they can meet different customers’ needs.”

In just a few years, Monique has accomplished some remarkable achievements with Aussie, and she is justifiably proud of running her own business as an Aussie Store Broker at just 21 years of age. 

“I’m really excited to take this by the horns and see where my journey as an Aussie Broker takes me,” says Monique. 

Backed by the strength of the Aussie brand

For women considering a future as a mortgage broker, Monique advises, “Have a go, take the plunge – it’s a fantastic opportunity. Aussie gives so much support – it really is a community, and the Aussie team becomes your work family.”

April Parker points to the Aussie brand as a big contributor to her own success as a broker. 

“Aussie is not a brand you have to explain. When you mention ‘mortgage brokers’, people think of Aussie. It’s such a strong and trusted brand – and the Aussie brand is the biggest thing that gets people in the door.”

To learn more about the opportunities available through Aussie, head to www.aussie.com.au/join-us/broker-opportunities.

© 2021 AHL Investments Pty Ltd ABN 27 105 265 861 Australian Credit Licence 246786.

Written by Aussie

Last Updated: 14 March 2022

Published: 16 March 2021