Newcastle’s business and accounting community has come together to enhance education pathways for young people in the region at the annual Bean Counters Ball, raising more than $120,000 since it was established in 2011.

 

The Bean Counters Ball is a joint initiative between local members of the Certified Practicing Accountants Australia (CPA) and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) to raise funds for the Hunter TAFE Foundation and Samaritans.

In 2016 the Ball raised $22,500 which will go towards programs supporting young people currently studying through the two local charitable organisations.

 

More than 260 people from the region’s accounting and business community attended the black-tie event hosted by Australian comedian, Tom Ballard at the Newcastle Exhibition and Convention Centre (NEX) on Friday 28 October.

In its sixth year, the ball is an important reminder of the importance of education for young people.

Bean Counters Ball Chairperson, Cassandra Sharp said the partnership with Samaritans and Hunter TAFE Foundation was created by local accountants as a way of encouraging young people into accounting and supporting them through the educational journey.

 

In 2016 the Bean Counters Ball presented three scholarships to accounting students Summer Christie, Yvonne Johnson, and Alastair Anderberg through the Hunter TAFE Foundation.

Summer and Yvonne received the Associate Degree of Accounting Scholarship, valued at $4,500 over two years. Alastair received the $3,000 Bean Counters pathway scholarship, which will support him throughout his education as he progresses through the Certificate IV in Accounting to the Associate Degree of Accounting at Hunter TAFE.

 

Summer Christie attended the Ball to share her journey into the accounting profession from environmental science and how the scholarship has assisted her.

Summer will complete the first of the two-year Associate Degree of Accounting later this month and has been successful in securing employment locally in the accounting field whilst she completes her qualifications. Summer hopes to go onto university to complete a third and final year of study to gain her Bachelor of Accounting qualifications.

 

This year major support was received from gold event sponsors Merchant Business Brokers, Rapsey Griffiths, Minder Secure Cloud Services by OAS Technology Group, Bottrell Business Consultants, Jirsch Sutherland, and Roberts Legal. A further eight local organisations have also supported the event through sponsorship.

In 2017, the Bean Counters Ball will be held on Friday 27 October at NEX. Early Bird tickets will go on sale in June next year.