massive imbalance when it comes to financial equity. One in seven

Australian adults are completely or severely excluded from accessing

basic financial services, such as a bank account, insurance or a line of

credit. The first Financial Exclusion Indicator has been developed by

National Australia Bank and the Centre for Social Impact at the

University of New South Wales'. It exposes the reality for more than 2.6

million residents of "the lucky country", many of whom are already

classified among society's most vulnerable. Is awareness the first step

in helping Australia's poor avoid what's often an inexorable downward

spiral?