From Paralympic Gold to local rugby: How Firstmac is helping to transform lives

This article was made in partnership with Firstmac.

This article was made in partnership with Firstmac.

In an era where corporate social responsibility often feels like a buzzword, Firstmac's long-standing commitment to Australian communities has demonstrated the power of sustained charitable partnerships.

The non-bank lender's decade-long partnership with the Steve Waugh Foundation has helped transform the lives of thousands of children with rare diseases, while its collaboration with the Broncos has set new benchmarks in community engagement, including a record $211,218 in charity partner contributions this year.

"We could not have reached the 20-year milestone without Firstmac’s unwavering support and generosity over the years," says Steve Waugh AO, whose foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary. "From life-saving portable oxygen tanks to transformative therapy that sees children reach milestones they didn't think possible, the generosity of Firstmac enables the vision of the foundation to be a reality every day."

The impact of this corporate backing is perfectly illustrated by the story of Queensland local Callum Simpson, who recently stunned the nation with his Paralympic debut in Paris, securing three medals including two golds. Simpson lives with the rare 2q23.1 Microdeletion condition – a genetic disorder where a tiny part of chromosome two is missing which can impact development. The foundation's support of Simpson included funding for crucial speech therapy and hydrotherapy.

"The Steve Waugh Foundation is incredible," says Simpson’s mother, Bec Simpson. "Cal's diagnosis put him as one in a million, and he has certainly now proved that he is one in a million! Never in our wildest dreams did we think this would happen when Cal was diagnosed all those years ago."

Meanwhile, Firstmac's evolution into the official charity partner for the Brisbane Broncos in 2023 has amplified their community impact. The partnership has already distributed more than $20,000 in grants to junior rugby league clubs across South East Queensland, while also supporting children-focused charities including Juiced TV, the Pyjama Foundation, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

"Firstmac and loans.com.au are like family to us, having been on our sleeve and partners for more than a decade," says a Broncos spokesperson. "They've always been big supporters of the community through their own avenues and we couldn't think of anyone better to team up with, to help give more Queenslanders a helping hand."

The partnership has notably strengthened the Broncos' women's programs, with loans.com.au's managing director Marie Mortimer playing a pivotal role in supporting the NRLW team and broader initiatives supporting women and children in need.

For the Steve Waugh Foundation, which has directly supported more than 400 different rare diseases and assisted over 4000 children and families across Australia, the value of sustained corporate support cannot be understated. The foundation reports that 100 per cent of families would recommend their services to others, with 95 per cent rating the positive impact of grants at nine out of 10 or higher.

"One of the biggest challenges families impacted by rare diseases face is the sense of isolation and uncertainty," explains Waugh. "The commitment of generous supporters like Firstmac is invaluable, providing families with the reassurance that they are not alone."

The profound impact of these partnerships reflects Firstmac's strategic approach to community engagement, explains Marie Mortimer from Firstmac.

"Firstmac is first and foremost a family business – we are the largest family-owned lender in Australia," says Mortimer. "We want to leave a positive legacy on multiple generations of families, including our own families, the families of our customers and the wider community in which we live."

This family-first philosophy guides Firstmac's selection of charitable partnerships. "We partner with charities that support our aims of empowering women, supporting children, and fostering a strong sense of community in our area," explains Mortimer. "We especially like to partner with organisations like the Broncos that share our passion for high performance in a competitive environment, so we know they will be able to have a real impact."

For Firstmac, these partnerships represent more than corporate social responsibility. "These partnerships reflect our broader corporate values because we want to use our success and size to be a socially impactful business, not just a profit-generating company," says Mortimer. "Our mission is to provide financial support and volunteer assistance to strengthen the community partners we work with."

As both partnerships continue to evolve and expand their reach, they stand as testament to the lasting impact that sustained, strategic corporate community engagement can achieve.

For more information, visit firstmac.com.au