Lender backs equality in sport
Great Southern Bank has signed on as a co-major partner of the Carlton AFLW team.
Already a co-major sponsor of the men’s team, it is the first time the bank has had the opportunity to sponsor the AFLW team since partnering with the Carlton Football Club in 2018.
Under the two-year sponsorship deal, the GSB logo will be emblazoned on the back of the AFLW guernseys throughout the 2022 season, which kicks off in August.
The customer-owned bank said the partnership would continue to elevate its profile on a national level, particularly within the state of Victoria, where approximately 20% of the bank’s home loan portfolio is based.
Recognised in 2021-2022 by the Diversity Council of Australia as an employer of choice, the bank supports diversity and inclusion, including through its sporting partnerships.
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Great Southern Bank CEO and managing director Paul Lewis (pictured above) said the partnership reflects the bank’s commitment to be gender inclusive and coincides with an exciting time in the AFLW journey.
“Becoming an equal partner to the Carlton AFL and AFLW teams aligns to our values, just as we have done by sponsoring both the men’s and women’s Brisbane Heat Big Bash League (BBL) cricket teams for a number of years,” Lewis said.
Figures show female participation is growing rapidly, with women and girls now representing 35% of AFL players. To keep up with this level of demand, the AFL would need to source an average of one new ground per week, over the next five years.
Having been a sponsor of the men’s team since 2018, Lewis said this was the first time the bank had the opportunity to sponsor the AFLW team.
Carlton Football Club CEO Brian Cook acknowledged Great Southern Bank’s longstanding interest in sponsoring the AFLW team, since it joined forces with the AFL side in 2018. The club was “elated” that the opportunity became available, he said.
“Parity between both our AFL and AFLW programs is a key focus for our football Club, be it the facilities we provide or standards we strive for and to have our co-major partners aligned in this regard further supports that,” Cook said.
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Great Southern Bank half-year financial results released in March, showed monthly home lending increased to $160m in December 2021, up from $80m in December 2020.
With a history spanning over 75 years, Great Southern Bank is Australia’s largest customer-owned bank, with around 381,000 customers. Having changed its name from CUA to Great Southern Bank in June 2021, the bank’s purpose is to help all Australians achieve their dreams of home ownership.
