Third Sector Review, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 57-76 ‘Beyond Access: The role of microfinance in enabling financial empowerment and wellbeing for Indigenous clients: lessons from remote Australia
Access to microfinance alone cannot enable poverty alleviation and empowerment for Indigenous clients living in remote Australia. Providers must look beyond access and incorporate user-centred financial capability and resilience-building supports into their service provision. This paper discusses lessons from the field, citing practical examples drawn from two research projects, which describe culturally informed ways in which adopting this approach can empower Indigenous clients and communities to enhance their own financial resilience and wellbeing.
Authors
Vinita Godinho, Katheen Eccles and Lauren Thomas