Growing up, NSW Woman of the Year Narromine’s Lynda Edwards said she was struck by the “inequities” around her. 

“What people, particularly those in the national space, need to understand is First Nations people have only had money in their economies for 100 years,” Edwards told the Western Plains App. 

“My grandfather was paid in rations. First Nations people were not allowed to have their own homes and their own money for a long time after colonialisation…my Grandfather never taught my mother about what it means to be part of the economy and my Mother never taught me” 

Lynda Edwards, was who named the 2023 NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year shortly after taking out the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year award last week, said that from a young age she really saw the value of education. 

“I left my community at 15. I went to live in an Aboriginal hostel and completed my high school education,” she said. 

Edwards went on to become a financial culpability trainer running workshops and then worked as a financial counsellor. Now she works in lobbying and advocacy as Financial Counselling Australia’s coordinator for financial capability. 

She has pushed reforms within big companies like Telstra and given evidence at the banking royal commission. 

Edwards has also been advocating for financial literacy to be included as a Closing the Gap target. 

“Still in Shock” Over Award 

“Yes I am still in shock,” Ms Edwards told the Western Plains App. “There were so many wonderful women nominated”. 

“I am surrounded by strong women. This isn’t just about me, it’s a journey of everyone that works in the financial literacy space for First Nations people,” Edwards said. 

Nationals’Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders congratulated Ms Edwards on her accomplishments. 

“Lynda is proud Wangkumara and Barkandji woman who has been a dedicated voice and volunteer for the Narromine community,” Mr Saunders said. 

“She has also been a passionate advocate for the financial rights, fairness and inclusion of First Nations people across NSW and Australia.” 

NSW Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said “This prestigious award celebrates nobility of character, commitment to change, and the strength to succeed, all attributes held by Ms Edwards.” 

Ms Edwards told the Western Plains App her lobbying is currently focused on banks and the Australian Tax Office. 

“The specific requirements for First Nations people having to prove identity and kinship when a beneficiary dies creates unfairness,” she said. “A lot of them don’t have proper birth documents or their documents contain different names to what they have used later in life. 

"We are asking superannuation companies to consider what is culturally appropriate when dealing with First Nations clients.” 

The dual award winner said the banks currently do not ask people if they identify as First Nations and if they did, this would allow for more “culturally safe” services. 

“One problem that keeps coming up again and again is that when someone tries to open bank account they are asked to go into a branch," she said. This is proving a major barrier as branches continue to close in regional communities.

"Now in some cases people live 200 or 500 kilometers away. If they are just opening a bank account chances are they don't have much money, so how would they be able to travel that far. If people could tell the banks they were indigenous, then banks could offer services that were culturally appropriate”.