Westpac Group

Nine months. Four countries. One powerful new cohort of leaders. Westpac Scholars Trust is proud to announce the inaugural 2026 Westpac Australia‑Asia Fellows 🌏 – 35 exceptional undergraduate and postgraduate students selected from 13 leading Australian universities University of Adelaide, The Australian National University, Monash University, Murdoch University, QUT (Queensland University of Technology), University of Melbourne, The University of Queensland, University of Sydney, University of Tasmania, The University of Western Australia, University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University, UNSW. As Australia’s future becomes increasingly shaped by the Asia‑Pacific, the 2026 Fellows represent the next generation of leaders ready to navigate complexity, build meaningful connection and lead across borders. Over the next nine months, they’ll undertake intensive leadership development and immersive experiences across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, exploring challenges and opportunities spanning regional diplomacy, economics, public health, technology, social impact and more. Congratulations to our first Westpac Australia‑Asia Fellows — this is just the beginning. 👉 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g75hH76s #WestpacScholars #Australia-Asia #Asia-Pacific #Leadership #Education

📈 In this economics explainer, Westpac chief economist Luci Ellis breaks down: 1️⃣ The two key reasons behind the RBA’s decision to lift rates for the second time this year 2️⃣ Why a split decision matters 3️⃣ What’s happening in the Australian economy 4️⃣ The added layer of risk from the Middle East conflict Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gPMMYimm #Westpac #WestpacWire #AustralianEconomy #RBA

🚩Disaster relief packages are now available for customers impacted by significant flooding in the Northern Territory and central Queensland. We encourage customers to call us as soon as it’s safe to do so. Customers can apply for: 📍Home loan repayment deferrals for up to three months 📍Credit card repayment deferrals for up to 90 days 📍Early term deposit withdrawal without any interest rate reduction 📍Business loan repayment deferrals for up to three months 📍Business cash flow support through temporary overdrafts at a discounted interest rate. Terms, conditions, and credit assessment criteria apply. Contact us at Westpac Assist on 1800 067 497 or visit https://lnkd.in/gxzzZij3. Business customers who need support can also contact their Relationship Manager. 

What does it take to be a Westpac Future Leader? Purpose. Leadership. Impact. It takes people who are willing to step into complexity, build capability, and take responsibility for shaping what comes next. Meet the 2026 Westpac Future Leaders Scholars - sixteen outstanding postgraduate students selected this year across nine leading Australian universities: UNSW, Monash University, The Australian National University, The University of Queensland, The University of Western Australia, Adelaide University, University of Tasmania, University of Sydney and University of Melbourne. Together, they’re tackling complex issues in areas such as health and wellbeing, climate science, technology, AI, education, agriculture, urban planning, social change and more - and developing the leadership skills needed to turn knowledge into action. Westpac Scholars Trust is proud to support their growth and the contribution they’ll make to Australia’s future. 👉 Explore their stories - https://lnkd.in/g5whRtWF #WestpacScholars #FutureLeaders #Leadership #Education #Innovation #Australia

What does it take to be a Westpac Research Fellow? Curiosity. Ambition. Long‑term thinking. And a commitment to research that pushes boundaries and builds knowledge that matters for Australia’s future. Introducing the 2026 Westpac Research Fellows: 💫 Dr Xanthe Croot, University of Sydney Advancing quantum computing by tackling one of its biggest barriers: errors in quantum bits. Her work brings next‑generation quantum technology closer to real‑world use across medicine, business, security, defence and more. 💫 Dr Claire Leppold, University of Melbourne Researching how communities recover when climate disasters overlap, repeat or strike in quick succession - shaping stronger emergency management systems that put people first. From quantum breakthroughs to climate resilience, Xanthe and Claire are turning rigorous research into real‑world impact. 👉 Meet the 2026 Fellows - https://lnkd.in/g5EHFNeB #WestpacScholars #Research #Innovation #Australia #Education

⛽ With the Strait of Hormuz closed, global oil markets are under pressure. Westpac's Head of Business & Industry Economics explains how oil markets really work - and what a war involving Iran could mean for the price you pay at the pump.   ➡️ Full story, now live on Wire: https://lnkd.in/g4mwzE7G

Eighteen exceptional researchers and postgraduate students have today been named 2026 Westpac Research Fellows and Future Leaders Scholars, supported by $3.45 million in scholarships through Westpac Scholars Trust. Together, they're tackling some of Australia’s most pressing challenges, from quantum computing and climate resilience to stroke recovery, mental health, sustainable agriculture and AI‑driven health innovation. Among them are: ✨ Dr Xanthe Croot (University of Sydney), advancing scalable quantum computing, helping to unlock real‑world applications across medicine, business, security and defence and more. ✨ Dr Claire Leppold (University of Melbourne), shaping more resilient futures for Australian communities recovering from compounding climate disasters — events that overlap, repeat or strike in quick succession. ✨ Sixteen Future Leaders Scholars, whose research spans climate modelling, biotechnology, education, neuroscience and Australia-Asia partnerships. Since 2015, Westpac Scholars Trust, together with its university partners, has invested more than $50 million in developing next‑generation leaders, with a commitment to awarding 100 scholarships every year, forever, in people with the vision, capability and determination to create a better future for Australia. Congratulations to the 2026 Westpac Research Fellows and Future Leaders Scholars! 👉 Learn more about the impact they’re working to create across Australia and our region – https://lnkd.in/gY--jMEn #WestpacScholars #FutureLeaders #Research #Innovation #Australia #Education

Some challenges feel too big to ignore. Right now, 1 in 3 Australian children aren’t meeting national benchmarks in reading and maths, a gap that’s even wider in disadvantaged communities. And when kids miss these foundations, the effects last a lifetime. We’re proud to announce a new direction for Westpac that brings our community and philanthropic efforts under one shared goal: improving education. We marked this commitment at Plumpton Primary School in Sydney, where Westpac CEO Anthony Miller, former NSW Education Minister Hon Adrian Piccoli, Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren and Principal Ms Larkin joined students and educators to launch this renewed focus. We’ll be investing $3 million in our incredible partners, Australian Schools Plus, ABCN and Te Uru Amokura | Springboard Trust, who are already working to deliver systemic change in schools. Our Foundations will deliver a unified grants program, awarding $4 million annually to schools and community organisations supporting student engagement and learning.  This commitment builds on our decade-long investment in education through the Westpac Scholars Trust, and extending our focus earlier, from kindergarten through to Year 6, where the foundations are set. It’s about giving every child, no matter where they live, the chance to build the basic skills that shape their future. Learn more about Westpac Foundation here: https://lnkd.in/gz9c8_zq #WestpacFoundation #Education #SocialImpact #SystemicChange Emily Gatt Jane Calvert Amy Lyden Lynette Round Nancie-Lee Robinson Silvana D. Alison Franco Kate Semrau Janine Birch Hannah Jarvis