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ISCOVER
Staff Reporter
In a bid to attract more new-to-industry recruits, the Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) has developed a new student-based career path to becoming a finance broker.
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FBAA president Peter White said while mentoring, Cert IV and diplomas are the traditional introductory steps into broking, these don’t stimulate someone into looking at making finance broking a career.
“The industry needs to step out of the shadows and be seen as exciting and prosperous,” Mr White said. “We need to connect with young people when they are at high school and university and making decisions about their careers.”
The FBAA has formed an exclusive ‘strategic alliance’ with student organisation Student Edge, which reaches over 600,000 students across the nation.
Student Edge’s mission is to “actively enhance students' lives”, and while a large part of the attraction is discounts on food, computers and lifestyle products, it also creates relationships with companies and industry bodies to assist students with career choices.
Mr White said the FBAA will produce videos and materials on careers in finance broking and would be able to engage with students who are looking at the broader finance industry.
“When students are thinking about careers in finance, accounting or banking, they will see finance broking as a career option sponsored by the FBAA,” he explained.
However, he added that the pathway would involve more than promotion.
“We are also providing them with the support and educational steps they need to start their career,” Mr White said.
The FBAA has created a ‘student membership’ category which, while not providing voting rights, will keep students updated with industry news and offer training support, guidance and free events and seminars.
Mr White wants the final step to be a new apprenticeship program and revealed the FBAA is already in discussions with both the federal government and Opposition.
An official national apprenticeship program would provide a clear path of entry for new brokers, as well as valuable training, he said.
“The value of an apprenticeship will also provide benefits to aggregators,” Mr White said. “This will be their next broker market.”
