CBA expands Career Comeback Program to regional Australia

Commonwealth Bank has expanded its Career Comeback Program nationally, opening new opportunities for professionals returning to the workforce after extended career breaks.

The program offers permanent roles and a structured 12-week support program, including onboarding, career coaching, mentoring, and flexible work arrangements – all designed to help participants transition back into meaningful careers. 

Program growth and success 

Launched in 2021 within CBA’s Institutional Banking & Markets (IB&M) division, the program has since grown to include yearly intakes of roles across Risk, Financial Crime, and Financial Services – and has achieved an impressive 92 per cent retention rate. 

Participants’ career breaks range from a few years to more than two decades. In 2021, Bronwyn Ayres-Munro joined the Non-Financial Risk and Conduct team after 21 years away, in a job-share arrangement with Margot Henville, who had also paused her corporate career for nearly 20 years. 

“The program gave me the confidence and direction I needed after taking a break,” says Henville. “It reassured me that my skills and experiences were valued. From my first day, I felt welcomed and supported. The best part was sharing the journey with others who understood the challenges of returning to work.” 

For alumni like Kristen Miller, now Director of Corporate Governance, the program has been transformative.  

“Returning to work after 10 years away was daunting, but the program recognised the whole person, not just a résumé. I joined as an Associate Director and am now a Director - proof that a strong comeback is absolutely possible.” 

Expanding to regional Australia 

Applications for the next intake opened this week (October 20), with CommBank offering up to 18 new roles across Institutional Banking and, for the first time, Retail and Business Banking, including CBA’s Regional and Agribusiness Banking (RAB) division.  

“Our people are central to our success and having a diverse and inclusive team means tapping into the strength and expertise of our full workforce to deliver greater value to our clients. Our Career Comeback program supports professionals with a wealth of experience and unique perspectives to return to work. As the program continues to expand across the organisation, I hope to see even more experienced professionals take on a rewarding career with CBA,” said Sinead Taylor, Group Executive Institutional Banking and Markets at CBA. 

Kylie Allen, Executive General Manager of Regional and Agribusiness Banking at CBA, says she’s excited to welcome the first participants to her division. 

“This marks an important step for our business. Regional and Agribusiness Banking is all about relationships, and Career Comeback candidates bring valuable experience and community connection. We’re proud to support professionals ready to relaunch their careers and contribute to the local business community through their impactful roles at CommBank.

“We’re open to candidates with strong commercial acumen, exceptional customer service and deep industry expertise – such as agribusiness, property or commercial – even if they haven’t previously worked as bankers. While full-time roles are preferred, we offer flexibility for the right candidate.

“As we continue to roll out the initiative nationally, its current success rate shows that with the right support, returning to work after a career break doesn’t have to be a setback - it can be a meaningful and empowering fresh start.”

Suzanne Jaques’ career comeback

Suzanne Jaques began her career as a Business Analyst with CBA in 2004, just two years after graduating from university. After gaining valuable experience, she decided to broaden her horizons and moved to the UK, where she worked for a decade. When Suzanne and her husband decided to start a family, they made the choice to leave their roles in London and return to Australia. Initially, Suzanne planned to take a five-year break until her son started school. However, the pandemic extended that break to ten years as she focused on raising her family.

When Suzanne decided to return to work, she quickly realised how challenging it was after such a long break. Competing against candidates with recent experience, she struggled to gain traction with recruiters and even considered going back to university to retrain. Everything changed when she discovered CBA’s Career Comeback Program. “I wasn’t a perfect fit, but I had the skills and hoped I’d at least get an interview. Luckily, I did – and it’s been an amazing opportunity,” Suzanne said.

“The options out there often mean taking a step backwards. This CBA opportunity lets you return where you left off, with the program’s support behind you. It gives you the confidence to step right back in. So it’s fantastic.”

Suzanne is now in CommBank's IB&M team, in a role that matches her experience, proving that with the right support, a career break doesn’t have to mean starting over.

Applications now open

CommBank is currently recruiting for a range of roles as part of the expanded program, including:

• Associate Director roles across institutional sales, lending, trade finance, and debt markets and products 
• Private banker roles in Retail Banking
• Agribusiness Bankers in the Regional & Agribusiness (RAB) team

In addition to seeking applicants from metropolitan centres across the country, the RAB team is looking for experienced bankers based in, or willing to relocate to: 

• Australian Capital Territory – Canberra; 
• New South Wales – Albury Wodonga, Central Coast, Gosford, Lismore, Newcastle, Orange, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga;  
• Northern Territory – Darwin; 
• Queensland – Cairns, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Townsville; 
• South Australia – Mount Barker, Mount Gambier; 
• Tasmania – Hobart; 
• Victoria – Albury Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Warragul; and 
• Western Australia – Karratha. 

Applications close on Monday 10 November. Successful candidates will commence on Monday 23 February 2026. 

For more information on the CommBank Career Comeback Program, visit: commbank.com.au/careercomeback