In this issue of Member Matters:
Our latest member newsletter is here, and includes:
- A message from new BankVic Board Chair Michael Liu
- Welcoming the Northern Territory Police Association
- Cyber Safety Awareness
- Peer Support Dogs pilot program
- Western Health Research Week Awards
- VPL Christmas Luncheon
- Blue Ribbon Foundation Charity Ball
- LETR Gala Ball
- Healthy competition at Police & Emergency Services Games
- BankVic named in the GoodCompany Awards
- Little Copper Club competition winners
- Win Back Your Insurance competition winners.
Hello and a happy new year to everyone. We at BankVic hope that for those able to take a break, the holiday period has been a safe and healthy one so far with some rest and recreation. To those who worked through, we thank you for what you do to serve the community year-round.
Late last year my fellow Directors elected me to the role of Chair of the Board, and I feel deeply honoured for the privilege. I also feel the responsibility to ensure BankVic continues to offer products, services and support that meet the unique needs and circumstances of our members.
I hope that as a Director and Chair I bring my own experience and insights into the mix. To share a little about me, I have worked in financial services for 30 years, largely in the areas of governance, risk, and executive leadership. Before that, I started out as a lawyer at Allens Arthur Robinson, and then spent time in investment banking before taking on leadership roles in fintech and venture capital.
What drew me to BankVic is the focus on members above everything else - helping those who help us. It’s that dedication that all Directors and staff have, that makes BankVic so special and something we are all proud of. The Board and team are committed to working hard for all our members and being there when you need us.
Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and three children. Family is very important to me, whether it is my immediate family or the broader BankVic community. Supporting and helping each other are common themes.
On behalf of the BankVic team, we wish you a safe and successful year ahead, whatever that may look like for you. Please get in touch with us for any help you may need along the way.
Michael Liu
Chair
Welcoming the Northern Territory Police Association
We are delighted to announce our new partnership with the Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA), which will see us provide a range of tailored financial products and personalised services to members of the NTPA.
CEO Anthony De Fazio said the partnership represents an exciting opportunity to support NTPA members with a banking relationship designed to help them achieve their professional and financial goals.
We are very proud to welcome the Northern Territory Police Association to the BankVic community and look forward to serving the hard working and dedicated members of the Northern Territory Police Force.
This new agreement follows last year’s historic partnership with the Australian Federal Police Association, further cementing BankVic’s commitment to serving members of the police force and first responder community Australia-wide.
NTPA President Nathan Finn said the decision to align with BankVic was well-considered but very clear.
NTPA members work in very demanding jobs and environments, and they deserve a banking partner who can offer them the most complete package of products, benefits, support, and service.
We know from our association peers in other states that BankVic is a committed partner who will work with us to help more police achieve their financial and professional goals.
Cyber safety awareness
Our first Financial Wellbeing webinar, delivered in partnership with Crime Stoppers Victoria, focused on helping members protect themselves from scams and cybercrime.
Cybersecurity expert Corch, consultant to Crime Stoppers Victoria and Chief Trouble Shooter at Shogun Cybersecurity, shared practical tips to recognise threats, avoid phishing scams, and safeguard personal data.
You can watch the full recording here, and access the Smart Scam Guide to strengthen your online safety.
Tips, resources, and case studies
Keep your scam knowledge up to date through visiting our BankSafe hub. 
Peer Support Dog pilot program a success
In November we celebrated the success of the Victoria Police NWM Peer Support Dog Program. This heartfelt initiative has made a real difference to the wellbeing of our policing community.
Over the past year, the peer support dogs and their handlers have provided comfort, reduced stress, and helped create safe moments for members to pause, reconnect and talk openly. What began as a pilot has quickly proven its value, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from Victoria Police members.
These incredible peer support dogs and their handlers have:
- Undertaken over 126 dedicated peer/dog shifts
- Conducted over 250 workplace visits
- Positively engaged with over 4,000 employees during workplace visits.
Congratulations to all involved in the success of the Victoria Police NWM Peer Support Dog Program.
Western Health Research Week Awards
Two BankVic grants will enable Melbourne’s western suburbs community to access better quality care in a more efficient way.
The BankVic Research Grant will help reduce usage of IV medication by 20% through a pharmacist-led stewardship program.
The BankVic Emergency Department Innovation Grant will enable the purchase of an updated, video-capable conferencing device that is compatible with AUSLAN interpreting services to assist patients who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Both grants were announced at Western Health’s Research Week Awards in November.
VPL Christmas Luncheon
The Victoria Police Legacy Christmas Lunch was held in late November, and is a highlight of the police calendar that brings together partners and children of police who have passed away.
It was inspiring to hear from VPL CEO and Deputy Chair Debra Robertson, BankVic CEO Anthony De Fazio, and Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, who each spoke about the importance of supporting police families.
BankVic is honoured to support the incredible work Victoria Police Legacy does for policing families who have lost a loved one. Thank you to everyone who came together to make this event so meaningful.
Blue Ribbon Foundation Charity Ball
On Saturday 8 November, BankVic was honoured to once again support the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Charity Ball - a truly special evening honouring the legacy of our fallen police and raising vital funds for the community.
We are incredibly grateful to the Blue Ribbon Foundation for their continued partnership, and to everyone who attended, contributed, and helped make the night such a success.
BankVic CEO Anthony De Fazio with Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush.
LETR Gala Ball
We were proud to sponsor the 2025 Law Enforcement Torch Run Gala Ball - an inspiring evening celebrating community, inclusion and the incredible work the Law Enforcement Torch Run do in support of Special Olympics Australia.
During the evening we heard from LETR Patron Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, LETR President Matt Volk, and BankVic CEO Anthony De Fazio presented the LETR International Scholarship to worthy recipient Joanna Cuddy.
The night was also a special moment to farewell Matt Volk and Michael Olsen APM. We honour them both for their outstanding contribution to LETR.
A big thank you to everyone involved in bringing this event to life, and to the Law Enforcement Torch Run for their ongoing commitment to making a difference.
Healthy competition at Police & Emergency Services Games
The Victorian Police & Emergency Services Games brought together serving emergency management personnel, participating in a range of sports across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Held from 5 – 12 October, the 44th Games saw healthy competition between 3,000 people in 175 unique events in 40 different sports. Highlighting the friendly focus, competitors were aged from 18 to 80 and created an atmosphere of camaraderie and celebration.
As a Silver Sponsor of the games, BankVic provided support for a number of events and presented medals and awards to participants. We congratulate all participants for their dedication and wonderful achievements.
“The Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games are about more than competition; they are an opportunity for us to come together, prioritise our own physical and mental health, and invest in the friendships that characterise the spirit of the Games.”
- David Clayton, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner and President - Victoria Police Games Federation.
GoodCompany Awards
BankVic was honoured to again be named in the GoodCompany Awards (previously Best Workplaces to Give Back), and in the top 30 for the fourth year in a row. We are also proud to be one of only three banks listed in these awards.
The GoodCompany awards celebrate organisations across Australia that are going beyond profits to enrich their communities, and who ensure giving back is a core part of their culture. This achievement reflects BankVic’s continuing commitment to build on our strong foundation of giving, including:
- paid volunteer leave that can be used with any charity or partner organisation
- uncapped donation matching
- the growing impact we are seeing from our incredible community partnerships.
For more about how BankVic supports the police, emergency, and health community, see our Community section.
Little Copper Club Savings Award winners
Congratulations to the winners of the Little Copper Club Savings Award, which was drawn on Monday 8 December 2025:
- Erik Beeson
- Renn Brown
- Arlo Calder
- Hayes Cook
- Louis Desmarais
- Lily Fox
- Zahra Keenan
- Indiana McLeod
- Austinn Moffatt
- Hendrix Rogers
- Amelia Schepis.
Win Back Your Insurance competition winners
Congratulations to the winners of our Win Back Your Insurance competition, drawn on Monday 1 December 2025:
- Brendan Ashe
- Simon Black
- Lisa Bruce
- Elisabeth Chaplin
- Leeann Christopher
- Malcolm Coghlan
- Caroline De-Abel
- Zachary Ellemor
- Ana Flores
- Tamara Goodsall
- Chloe Hagigeorgiou
- Dylan Hand
- Valerie Homan
- Bruce Johnson
- Linda Jones
- Tanja Kelf
- Lupco Kencevski
- Bernard Lewis
- Daniel Lorkin
- Callum Macleod
- Sallie Mansell
- Bradley Maxwell
- David Moss
- Martine Nicholls
- Jodie Oughtred
- Maree Park
- Kym Postma
- Jonathan Reader
- Danielle Sweet
- Andrew Turner.
