Westpac executives travelled to Yass last week to take a tour of the community not-for-profit preschool to witness firsthand how the partnership can assist the centre’s expansion plans.

Local Westpac Branch Manager Olivia Pearce and Yass Home Finance Manager, Lisa Brown, explained the benefits of the Introducer Program to State General Manager, James Cudmore, Regional General Manager, Bernie Sandral and Westpac Chief Operating Officer, Stuart Hall.

The Introducer Program involves Westpac rewarding YECCA with on-going commission from any home, residential investment or equity investment loan taken out by anyone in the community who presents a referral document from the centre.

Ms Pearce said the referral program was a way the local branch could continue to give back to the community.

“YECCA came to us last year asking for a contribution to its building fund...and this was just something where I felt the continuity of support could go a bit further.

“It is important for us to get behind our community organisations and to help see them prosper and grow.”

The Introducer Program generated a small amount of interest when it was launched this time last year and Ms Pearce said she hoped to build upon those foundations in 2016.

For every referral sent to Westpac by a parent or friend of YECCA, the centre will receive an upfront payment followed by a trail commission for the life of the loan. Westpac will be making the payment to YECCA and not the individual taking out the loan, Ms Pearce stressed.

“We just want to create more awareness about how the community can help us help YECCA,” Ms Pearce continued.

Any financial support from local businesses such as Westpac would be gratefully received, according to YECCA’s director, Fiona Nolan.

“It is always encouraging when local organisations show an interest in what our community preschool is trying to achieve because raising funds is always difficult.

“The first stage of our renovation project has been funded by parent fundraising and the board’s efforts in applying for government grants, which is amazing, but that’s a lot of sausage sizzles so any extra support from local businesses like Westpac will certainly go a long way.”

The preschool’s volunteer board members are currently busy fundraising in the hope of making stages two and three - which will include a new multi-purpose room and roof - a reality sooner rather than later. Once the renovation project is complete, YECCA will be able to increase its enrolments.

The centre hopes to have its brand new front entrance and office up and running within the next few months with a grand opening slated for September.