16,000 brokers and growing: MFAA membership hits record high

As Australians seek the services of brokers in record numbers, Australia’s national peak association representing mortgage and finance brokers has also reached new heights in membership numbers.

At the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) National Conference in Melbourne last week, CEO Anja Pannek revealed that the association now has more than 16,000 members.  The MFAA’s membership figures are independently audited.

“Surpassing 16,000 members is a fantastic result for the association and the MFAA team,” said MFAA CEO Anja Pannek. 

Ms Pannek said membership numbers had grown 9% over the past two years with over 97% of the MFAA’s members being individual mortgage and finance brokers. 

“As the industry continues to grow to meet the demands of consumers and business owners, it’s pleasing to see to the immense trust brokers are placing in the MFAA, to be their voice and represent their views when talking to government, regulators and other key stakeholders,” Ms Pannek said.

“We consider it an honour and a privilege to champion the value, choice, and competition our members create for Australians.

“We have continued to deliver positive outcomes for our members over the last 12 months, through advocacy, promotion and professional development.” 

Some of the key MFAA achievements include:

• The launch of the Mortgage Financial Professional Australia (MFPA) designation in partnership with RMIT Online – the first professional mortgage broker designation in Australia available through one of Australia’s leading universities

• Seeking a fairer deal for brokers on payroll tax, leading to the NSW parliamentary inquiry into the Payroll Tax Act 

• Commissioning the 2025 Value of Mortgage and Finance Broking Report in partnership with Deloitte and all major aggregation groups nationally

• The release of the MFAA’s Home Buying Schemes in Australia guide

• The industry’s first whitepaper on the safe and ethical use of AI 

• Submissions to multiple inquiries, including the Inquiry into the Financial Regulatory Framework and Home Ownership, calling for a dynamic serviceability buffer and simplification of government home buyer schemes

• The MFAA’s largest ever national consumer campaign, which to date has attracted almost 15 million impressions and over 259,000 clicks to the MFAA Find a Broker website.

Ms Pannek said that the launch of the MFPA designation on 22 July was a major achievement for the MFAA.

“The MFPA clearly demonstrates we are committed to the highest standards in broker education. This is what our members have asked of us. The designation is a crucial step on our journey toward professionalisation,” said Ms Pannek.

The MFPA was launched at the commencement of the 2025 MFAA National Conference “The YOU Difference”, which was then followed by the MFAA National Excellence Awards.

MFAA members embraced the opportunity to hear from a range of experienced brokers and industry experts at the national conference, with around 800 people in attendance. More than 600 attended the national awards to celebrate the industry’s top performers.

“We are laser focused on supporting the success of our members and this industry – not only now, but into the future,” Ms Pannek said.