Two First Nations-led organisations have been announced as this year's CommBank Next Chapter Innovation partners.
The program invests in innovative, First Nations-led place-based initiatives which provide culturally informed, practical responses to financial abuse to create safer pathways to financial security.
Over the next 18 months New South Wales' Mudgin-gal Aboriginal Corporation and Queensland's Mookai Rosie-Bi-Bayan will each receive access to grants of up to $200,000 in addition to tailored non-financial assistance, including executive mentoring, and capability-building support from across CommBank.
This year's partners were nominated by members of CommBank's First Nations Employee Network and have been selected for their innovative, community-based approaches to supporting recovery in First Nations communities.
Meaning 'Women's Place', Mudgin-gal will deliver sacred Circles – trauma-informed, healing-led sessions which blend cultural practice with practical financial education, supporting women's recovery and financial empowerment.
Entirely led by Aboriginal women in the heart of Redfern, the organisation has become a beacon of community strength, cultural healing, and early intervention in the fight against family violence.
Across the border, Queensland's Mookai Rosie-Bi-Bayan, which operates the Cape York, Northern Peninsula Area, and Torres Strait regions, is continuing the legacy of their aunties by establishing the 'Building Futures, Building Communities' program.
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.
Now in its third year, CommBank's Next Chapter Innovation program is part of the bank's broader commitment to address domestic and family violence and financial abuse, to support victim-survivors on their path to long-term financial independence.
CommBank Executive Manager Mitchell Heritage, who manages First Nations business banking and is a member of CommBank's Indigenous Leadership Team, said CommBank is proud to support community-led organisations which "are delivering real change on the ground".
"CommBank's Next Chapter Innovation program was established to help break the cycle of financial abuse and empower people to rebuild long-term financial independence," Mr Heritage said.
"This year, we are pleased to support First Nations communities through the program by investing in innovative, culturally informed programs."
This announcement coincides with the release of CommBank's FY26-28 Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which reflects the bank's ambition to be a trusted partner to First Nations peoples as they achieve their social, cultural and economic aspirations.
Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine endorsed CommBank's latest RAP, saying the plan "sets out their priorities in further strengthening their engagement with First Nations peoples".
"It builds on the Bank's previous reconciliation commitments; through listening to the voices and expertise of First Nations people and using that knowledge to continually expand their strategies, the Bank demonstrates a sustainable approach to their reconciliation program, now and into the future," Ms Mundine said.
In addition to Mudgin-gal Aboriginal Corporation and Mookai Rosie-Bi-Bayan, CommBank will also continue to work with its 2024 Next Chapter Innovation partners, Strong Women Talking and the Council of Aboriginal Services Western Australia.
CommBank's FY26-28 Elevate RAP, including the Bank's FY26-28 RAP priorities, can be found online.
