Great Southern Bank backs equality in sport with Carlton AFLW partnership

14 June 2022

Great Southern Bank today announced it had signed a two-year deal to become the Co-Major Partner of the Carlton AFLW team, further demonstrating the bank’s support of women’s sport.

The agreement will see the logo of Australia’s largest customer-owned bank feature on the back of the AFLW guernseys for the 2022 season, scheduled to begin in August. The sponsorship is aimed at further elevating the bank’s profile nationally, and particularly in Victoria which accounts for around 20 per cent of the lender’s home loan portfolio.

Great Southern Bank - which was recognised by the Diversity Council of Australia in 2021-22 as an employer of choice – has placed a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion, including through its sporting partnerships.

“This partnership couldn’t have come at a more exciting time in the AFLW journey and reflects our commitment to gender inclusiveness,” Great Southern Bank CEO and Managing Director Paul Lewis said.

“Becoming an equal partner to the Carlton AFL and AFLW teams aligns to our values, just as we have done by sponsoring both the men’s and women’s Brisbane Heat Big Bash League (BBL) cricket teams for a number of years.”

Female participation in the AFL is increasing, with women and girls now making up 35 per cent of participation in the sport. The growth is so rapid, the AFL will need to identify an average of one new ground per week, for the next five years, just to keep up with demand.

Mr Lewis said this was the first time Great Southern Bank has had an opportunity to sponsor the AFLW team since first partnering with the Carlton Football Club in 2018.

Carlton Football Club CEO Brian Cook said Great Southern Bank is an important part of the Carlton Football Club.

“We know this is something Great Southern Bank has been wanting to do since they joined forces with the AFL side in 2018 and we are elated that the opportunity has become available,” Mr Cook said.

“Parity between both our AFL and AFLW programs is a key focus for our football Club, be it the facilities we provide or standards we strive for, and to have our Co-major Partners aligned in this regard further supports that.”

About Great Southern Bank

For over 75 years, we’ve been putting our customers first, and today we look after the financial needs of around 381,000 Australians. We have changed our name from CUA to Great Southern Bank, but we remain customer-owned and firmly focused on helping all Australians own their own homes.

Great Southern Bank media contact:

Michael O’Toole
Manager, Corporate Communications
Mob: 0428 051 754
Email: Michael.Otoole@gsb.com.au