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National NAIDOC Week 2025: Celebrating culture, history, and achievement National NAIDOC Week 2025 will be celebrated across Australia from 6 July to 13 July, providing an important opportunity for all Australians to come together to recognise, reflect on, and celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. The Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures. It has grown from a day of advocacy in the 1930s to a nationwide celebration of the oldest continuing cultures on Earth. National NAIDOC Week 2025 marks 50 years of celebrating Indigenous culture, spirit, and leadership. This year’s theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, honours not only the achievements of the past but also the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of young leaders, the vision of communities, and the legacy of Indigenous ancestors. How to get involved National NAIDOC Week is celebrated through events held across the country, both in First Nations communities and in schools, workplaces, and communities. To get involved: Attend cultural and community events – Join local festivals, art exhibitions, storytelling sessions, performances, enjoy BBQs, marches, sports events. Take part in ceremonies – Experience smoking ceremonies, Welcome to Country, and traditional dances. Celebrate Indigenous excellence – Learn about the NAIDOC Awards and outstanding Indigenous leaders. Explore local history – Discover the stories of Traditional Owners and your area’s Indigenous heritage. Support Indigenous businesses – Buy from Indigenous-owned stores and artists. Everyone is encouraged to take part, whether by joining local events, supporting Indigenous-owned businesses, exploring the works of Indigenous authors, or having meaningful conversations that foster understanding. Find local NAIDOC events in your area or learn more about the NAIDOC awards. As we journey through 2025, NAIDOC Week remains a powerful reminder of the importance of unity, respect, and reconciliation among all Australians. Let’s walk together in celebration and solidarity, honouring culture and ensuring the voices of First Nations peoples continue to be heard and valued. Indigenous initiatives Through our relationship with the Australian Mutuals Foundation, we’re proud to support Barnardos Australia’s Yurungai Learning Centre, an after-school program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary school children that offers homework support, cultural enrichment activities, and nutritious afternoon meals. Through this partnership, we are helping build pathways for strong, resilient Indigenous communities and contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate Australia. As a member owned bank, we are committed to making banking easy, inclusive and accessible for all of our members. We are a participating lender under the Victorian Homebuyer Fund, with the Victorian Government helping to fast-track eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants’ path to home ownership, requiring only a 3.5% deposit and eligible for up to a 35% shared equity contribution. We have also recently commenced work on developing our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to sustainably and strategically take meaningful action to advance reconciliation.Based around the core pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities, RAPs provide tangible and essential benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, increasing economic equity and supporting First Nations self-determination. We look forward to sharing more as we progress our RAP and supporting initiatives. For more information about NAIDOC week visit the NAIDOC website.  

Win a holiday getaway and help kids get to where they need to be! The Australian Mutuals Foundation, with generous support from Transport Life and Leisure, is running a raffle fundraiser to help Barnardos Australia buy a much-needed new bus.Every ticket sold brings Barnardos’ Yurungai Learning Centre in Waterloo one step closer to their goal - and gives you the chance to win an unforgettable holiday escape!The Barnardos Australia Yurungai Learning Centre in Waterloo provides essential services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, including homework help, cultural learning, life skills development, and nutritious meals. For many children, the bus offers a reliable means of reaching the Centre. However, the current bus is nearing its end of its usability and urgently needs replacing.Raffle PrizesTwo winners will each receive a holiday package worth up to $1,200, choosing from eight stunning NSW coastal destinations: Batemans Bay, Byron Bay, Hawks Nest, Nambucca Heads, Port Macquarie, The Entrance, Tweed Heads, or Woolgoolga.Key Dates• Raffle opens: 1st May 2025• Entries close: 5:00 PM AEST, 30th June 2025• Winners drawn: 2nd July 2025Enter the raffle and read the terms and conditions at: www.australianmf.org.au/yurungai-bus-raffleYour participation will help provide safe transportation for children to access vital educational and cultural programs. Thank you for your support! About Barnardos AustraliaBarnardos Australia is a leading non-government, non-denominational child protection charity in Australia. They work together with children, young people and families to break the cycle of disadvantage, creating safe, nurturing and stable homes, connected to family and community. About the Australian Mutuals Foundation (AMF)The primary purpose of the AMF is to provide a vehicle for Mutual Banks, Credit Unions, Building Society and Cooperative banking to assist needy children in Australia, and to alleviate poverty in some of the poorest communities in South East Asia and the Pacific by the creation of sustainable cooperative financial organisations.

World Environment Day, held every year on 5 June, is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness and driving action for the health of our planet. Recognised worldwide, it serves as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the environment. In 2025, the theme Beat Plastic Pollution calls on individuals, governments, and industries to confront one of the most widespread and harmful environmental issues facing our world today. Launched by the United Nations in 1972, World Environment Day has become the leading international platform for environmental awareness and action, engaging millions of people across more than 150 countries. As the planet faces mounting challenges, including climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution, this day encourages reflection, awareness, and decisive action to protect ecosystems and human health.   Why plastic pollution matters This year’s theme, Beat Plastic Pollution, highlights a critical and urgent issue. In 2024 alone, over 400 million tonnes of plastic waste were generated, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). A significant amount of this waste ends up in oceans, rivers, and natural landscapes, harming wildlife, contaminating food chains, and accelerating climate change. In March 2022, 175 nations agreed to create a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, marking a pivotal step toward global accountability. Yet, without further action, plastic waste is projected to nearly triple by 2060, potentially reaching one billion tonnes annually.   What you can do You don’t have to be an environmental expert to make a difference. Small changes in everyday habits can spark powerful, lasting impact. Here are some practical actions you can take: Reduce your use of single-use plastics—carry a reusable water bottle, shopping bag, and utensils. Avoid Single-Use Plastics: Say no to disposable bags, straws, cutlery, and bottles. Recycle properly by following local guidelines and avoiding contamination. Support brands and businesses that prioritise sustainable packaging and practices. Educate others about the impact of plastic pollution and advocate for systemic change. Participate in local clean-up efforts, environmental events, or social media campaigns to raise awareness. Even small changes in daily habits can create powerful ripple effects.   A future without plastic pollution Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue, it threatens human health, food security, and climate stability. Yet, it remains one of the most solvable environmental challenges of our time. Let 5 June be more than just a date on the calendar, because when we choose to beat plastic pollution, we choose a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for ourselves and for generations to come.   Our impact As a member-owned bank, we’re always striving to make a positive impact, and we are committed to a more sustainable future for our members and their communities. We recognise the importance of sound practices as part of our responsibility to members, employees and the communities in which we are part of. One way we seek to do this is by trying to reduce the environmental impact of our business operations, via a number of key initiatives: Introduction of recycled PVC cards and environmentally conscious collateral across the G&C Mutual Bank suite of debit and credit cards, with plans to extend this to Unity Bank cards in the future. Development of our Responsible Banking Policy, guiding our approach to lending and investing with respect to our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy. Undertaking a Greenhouse Gas Assessment to better understand and reduce our emissions. Comprehensive recycling program at our Elizabeth Street Head Office through our building management operating a four-bin waste system: dry waste, organics, mixed recycling, and paper and cardboard.   Together, through conscious action and collective effort, we can help protect the planet and shape a brighter tomorrow.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW), held annually from 27 May to 3 June, is a significant time for all Australians to reflect, learn, and engage in the journey toward reconciliation. It provides an opportunity to honour our shared history, acknowledge past injustices, and work together to build respectful relationships and a more just, equitable future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The dates of National Reconciliation Week mark two critical events in Australia's reconciliation journey: 27 May – The anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, when over 90% of Australians voted to amend the Constitution to count Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the census and allow federal laws to be made for them. 3 June – The anniversary of the 1992 Mabo Decision, the High Court ruling that recognised Native Title and officially rejected the policy of terra nullius, the idea that Australia was empty land belonging to no one before British colonisation. Each year, Reconciliation Australia sets a theme to guide reflection and action. The 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, urges all Australians to connect past lessons with a shared vision for a more inclusive future, through truth-telling, allyship, and meaningful change. Reconciliation is more than a symbolic gesture; it requires real action. It’s about: Confronting the truth of Australia’s history Addressing inequality across health, education, and economic opportunity. Protecting land rights and cultural heritage. Valuing Indigenous voices in decision-making.   Indigenous initiatives Through our relationship with the Australian Mutuals Foundation, we’re proud to support Barnardos Australia’s Yurungai Learning Centre, an after-school program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary school children that offers homework support, cultural enrichment activities, and nutritious afternoon meals. Through this partnership, we are helping build pathways for strong, resilient Indigenous communities and contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate Australia. As a member owned bank, we are committed to making banking easy, inclusive and accessible for all of our members. We are a participating lender under the Victorian Homebuyer Fund, with the Victorian Government helping eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants’ path to home ownership, requiring only a 3.5% deposit and eligible for up to a 35% shared equity contribution. We have also recently commenced work on developing our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to sustainably and strategically take meaningful action to advance reconciliation. Based around the core pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities, RAPs provide tangible and essential benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, increasing economic equity and supporting First Nations self-determination. We look forward to sharing more as we progress our RAP and supporting initiatives.   Getting involved During National Reconciliation Week, we encourage everyone to: Attend local events such as art exhibitions, cultural ceremonies, and community walks. Educate themselves and others about Indigenous history and perspectives. Support Indigenous-owned businesses and organisations. Reflect on their role in advancing reconciliation in their everyday lives.   Looking forward together Reconciliation is not just a national goal; it’s a personal journey for all of us. By acknowledging the past and committing to real change, we can work together toward a future built on trust, respect, and shared understanding.  

The ongoing flood emergency in New South Wales has caused catastrophic damage, leaving communities devastated, and tragically, lives lost. To provide much needed support and financial assistance, the Australian Mutuals Foundation has activated its emergency/disaster relief donations portal. This portal provides the ability for the broader Australian co-operative and mutual community members to donate essential funds, that will be used to help communities recover in the wake of the devastation caused by the floods. We are committed to supporting these communities and with your help we can make a difference to all those affected. In response, we have donated $5,000 via the Australian Mutuals Foundation's (AMF) disaster relief portal to help support those impacted by this crisis. Your support today can make a huge difference. Donate now through the Australian Mutuals Foundation.

As the major rain event across the NSW Mid North Coast continues to unfold, we know many of our members may be impacted in the coming days. As a member owned bank with a regional footprint, we understand the importance of helping our communities at a time when they need us most and we stand ready to help members directly impacted by this weather event with a number of support measures: Payment relief on home and personal loans Restructuring loan repayments Early redemption of Term Deposits without penalty We encourage impacted members to contact our Member Service team on 1300 36 2000 or mail@unitybank.com.au, who will discuss your situation and provide support options to assist you. Please stay safe and follow the directions of your local authorities.   Credit eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply. Loan deferment option available at the discretion of the Bank and subject to approval. Interest accrues and is capitalised to the loan throughout the approved loan repayment deferral period.