Alex Matthews – Executive General Manager, Environment & Social, CommBank, Theresa Simpson – CEO, Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan, Aunty Gail Mabo – Indigenous Advisory Council Member, CommBank, Sean Gordon – Chair, Indigenous Advisory Council, CommBank. Photographer: Sam Matthews

Mookai Rosie has been chosen as a partner in the CommBank Next Chapter Innovation program for 2025.

The Next Chapter program is part of Commbank’s broader commitment to help address domestic and family violence (DFV) and financial abuse, to support victim-survivors on their path to long-term financial independence.

Over the next 18 months two First Nations-led organisations, Mudgin-gal Aboriginal Corporation (NSW) and Mookai Rosie will each receive access to grants of up to $200,000 plus tailored non-financial assistance, including, executive mentoring, and capability-building support from across CommBank.

By engaging First Nations-led organisations, we can support solutions designed by the community, for the community.

Mookai Rosie CEO Theresa Simpson said the funds would be used to establish a Building Futures, Building Communities initiative. The initiative will create a social enterprise that supports victim-survivor recovery and generates income by harnessing traditional knowledge of plants, to make medicinal healing products, empowering women with both cultural and economic strength.

“So many of our ladies have been affected by domestic violence … the funding from CommBank allows us to specifically concentrate on this as a priority.”

“A lot of our ladies need to travel to Cairns for their birthing and medical needs, and we try to provide that wraparound support to ensure that their needs are met in a caring and safe environment.”

“They can stay with us for a few days or a few months, depending on the complexity, so while they’re here, they start to open up and share. The sense of safety and trust means they reveal other issues like financial abuse to the team at Mookai team.”

We’re excited to get started with this new project!