Westfund: Benefitting regional Australia
The origins of Westfund lie in the Lithgow Valley of NSW and the development of coal mining, which provided the basis for industrialisation of the town.
Co-operatives for small business
While co-operatives are traditionally associated with workers, consumers and farmers, the co-operative business model has also been adopted by groups of small business owners, the self-employed and professionals.
NORCO: Serving dairy farmers and the community
NORCO is currently Australia’s largest dairy co-operative and has extensive operations in Northern NSW and Southern Queensland.
Community power: Revitalising Cootamundra’s town centre with a co-operative spirit
When Cootamundra faced shop closures, including Target and a declining town centre, its residents took decisive action. In August 2020, 80 locals […]
The Newcastle and Suburban Co-operative – a Hunter Valley giant
The Newcastle and Suburban Co-operative survived the economic challenges of the Great Depression and the dislocation of two World Wars, with a peak membership of 95,000 in 1978.
Co-operative Women’s Guilds: Co-operative action and women’s rights
The Women’s Co-operative Guild encouraged women through education to actively participate in their own autonomous guilds and sponsored women as candidates in co-operative elections.
Life goal unlocked: MyHome made the impossible possible for new homeowner
Tasmania’s only customer-owned bank, Bank of us, became MyHome’s partner lender in 2022, helping over 1,700 people take their first step into homeownership.
Henry Parkes and Frank Pulsford: Pioneers of the Australian co-operative movement
Two pioneers of the Australian co-operative movement were Henry Parkes and Frank Pulsford.
Financing the Australian dream of home ownership – co-operative building societies
Co-operative building societies provided finance that allowed some Australians to achieve the Australian dream of home ownership in the period following the Second World War.
Celebrating culture and creativity: NAAKPA’s cosmetic workshops in Wadeye
In 2024, the Northern Australia Aboriginal Kakadu Plum Alliance (NAAKPA) hosted cosmetic workshops at the Wadeye Women’s Centre and Thamarrurr Youth, blending […]
Co-ops in Australia: A legacy of community and resilience
Since the 1850s, co-operatives have been woven into Australia’s social and economic fabric. From early consumer co-operatives to today’s agricultural, credit and […]
Building financial alternatives: Credit unions in Australia
Australian credit unions emerged with the 1945 founding of the Homeowner’s Co-operative Credit Society. In the decades since, they’ve become essential in […]