Margaret Gebadi has become the 1000th user to join Pama Platform after she attended the Change Makers Summit Workshop in Cairns.
Hailing from Bamaga, Margaret now lives in Seisia and was one of the more than 70 community members from Cape York who descended on Cairns for the workshop to discuss the challenges the people of Cape York face and work towards solutions.
Throughout the three days of the workshop, the members discussed various issues impacting their lives, from education to health and language.
Several guest speakers spoke to those gathered while Pama Platform showcased the work they’ve been doing.
Pama Platform is a web-based app co-designed by Cape York communities to help users manage their money and daily lives. The Platform also provides visibility of Opportunity Accounts, such as READY, SET and GO, which help families save for early educational, schooling and post-school development needs.
During the demonstration, Margaret was impressed by Pama Platform and immediately thought of opening a READY Opportunity Account to save for her granddaughter’s education.
“The Pama Platform presentation was so good because it let me think about how when I had my son, there wasn’t anything like that back in the day,” she said.
“It felt a bit sad, but then I came to realise that he might not have had something like that, but I can do something like that for my granddaughter – she’s just turned two, and I feel this would be helpful for me to get her set up for her future.
That is why I signed up for Pama Platform. I will open a READY account for her, and the whole family will eventually contribute to save for her schooling and whatever she needs."
1000th Pama Platform user, Margaret Gebadi
Margaret said it was easy to sign up for the Pama Platform once she saw its ease of use.
“It was easy to use the app, especially with uploading important documents, making a budget and stuff like that,” she said.
While the READY, SET, and GO accounts are one of the main drivers of the Pama Platform, there are other options for locked accounts, including Bayan, which helps people save for a house deposit, and a Personal Saver, which can be used to save for important purchases and other big-ticket items, including a car or even a well-needed holiday.
Cape Operations Manager Stacee Ketchell said developing Pama Platform and the various Opportunity Accounts has been an incredible journey.
“Pama Platform enables people to take control of their finances and save for their children,” she said.
“Entire families can contribute so they know they will have the funds available when it comes time to pay for school fees, school books, stationery or uniforms.
“Pama users love the locked accounts because they know the money is there for the child’s education and nothing else. They are putting family first.”
Stacee said signing up the 1000th user was surreal.
“While several people signed up to Pama Platform during the workshop, Margaret was the 1000th user, so that was a special milestone for us,” she said.
To think that more than a thousand of our mob are signed up and taking control of their everyday lives and finances makes my heart swell with pride.
Cape Operations Manager, Stacee Ketchell
Due to the nature of the web-based app, the different types of locked accounts, rewards, budget assistance and more, Margaret hopes to introduce Pama Platform to more people in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) on the northwestern coast of Cape York and said she was proud to be the 1000th user.
“We would love to get this app used more in the NPA,” she said.
“This app would significantly help many people save for the future, our children and grandchildren."