About FCVic
Financial Counselling Victoria is the peak body and professional association for financial counsellors in Victoria.
Financial Counselling Victoria is the peak body and professional association for financial counsellors in Victoria.
FCVic provides resources and support to financial counsellors and their agencies who assist vulnerable Victorians experiencing financial difficulty. We work with government, banks, utilities, debt collection and other stakeholders to improve approaches to financial difficulty for vulnerable consumers.
As the peak body representing financial counsellors, we are not only advocates for the continued funding and expansion of the sector to meet community need, we are also the primary support and development body focused on professionalizing and resourcing the sector.
We do this is a number of ways, including:
- Coordinating access to professional development through an ongoing training calendar;
- Developing and supporting of working groups and regional networks;
- Presenting an annual statewide conference focused on issues relevant to financial counsellors and their clients;
- Representing the sector to industry and government; and
- Assisting financial counsellors to meet the ongoing requirements which allow agencies who employ them to hold an ASIC Exemption
Find out more about FCVic:
A bit of history
FCVic commenced in 1978 as the Financial Counsellor’s Association of Victoria (FCAV) as a means for workers in the newly founded profession to build networks and address the systemic social issues they had identified through their casework.
The Association continued its advocacy work under the name Consumer Advocacy and Financial Counselling Association of Victoria (CAFCA) from 1990.
Following a review of the Constitution in 1996, CAFCA restructured to become the Financial & Consumer Rights Council (FCRC) – the Victorian peak body for both financial counsellors and consumer support workers (a now defunct role).
From 2010, FCRC led the sector through a process of significant professionalisation, including contributing to Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) on the development of national standards for the profession
Once again, in 2019 the members adopted a new Constitution and a new name for the organisation: Financial Counselling Victoria (FCVic).
Over our long history, FCVic has grown to include over 500 financial counsellor, student and organisation members, all of which are focused on different areas of consumer protection and financial counselling practice. Members of FCVic are very active in supporting each other through participation in regional and statewide networks, and case-specific working groups.
The systemic advocacy, policy and project work of FCVic has contributed to an increase in the number of financial counsellors in Victoria. This has also resulted in the development of numerous resources to assist consumers and caseworkers to deal with financial hardship, and to advocate strongly for those who need it most.
A history of FCVic and the Victorian financial counselling sector was published in 2020. Click here to find out more.
Governance
FCVic is governed by a Board consisting of eight to ten financial counsellors elected by the membership, with up to two external directors co-opted for their expertise. The Annual General Meeting of the Association elects the Chair and ordinary members of the Board. The Board then elects its remaining office bearers: Deputy Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, at its first meeting.
FCVic is a small organisation with a robust approach to governance. FCVic is committed to good governance to ensure that it remains focussed on its purpose and delivers quality professional development to its members, to governments who rely on it for policy advice and to the disadvantaged consumers for whom its members act.
In 2015, FCVic conducted a review of its governance structure and processes. The review made 24 recommendations in regard to building a shared understanding of roles and responsibilities, developing a succinct statement of the organisation’s purpose, communicating the work of the Board to members, building the skill base of the Board, streamlining and strengthening Board processes and reporting by the Executive Officer. These recommendations were adopted over a period of 12 months in 2016.
Our Purpose
- Advocate for vulnerable Victorian consumers who are experiencing financial difficulty*
- ensure the highest standards of professionalism in the provision of financial counselling services in Victoria by setting and maintaining best practice standards for members in all their dealings with clients
- Support the financial counselling sector to adopt and maintain best practice, through casework, advocacy and law reform
*We do this through our work supporting financial counsellors and through stakeholder relationships to create systemic change. We don’t provide direct advocacy for individuals.
Our Objectives
To ensure that:
- financial counsellors in Victoria are supported to comply with best practice;
- the financial counselling sector has secure, stable and sustainable funding;
- financial counselling has a high profile;
- vulnerable Victorians have an effective voice; and
- the Association is a strong, adaptive professional organisation that is valued by
members, government and other stakeholders.
Our Board
CARLY BAKER
Chairperson
After 14 years in the banking industry, Carly started in the community sector as a financial counsellor in 2011. Carly was fortunate enough to be a Jan Pentland Scholarship recipient in 2014, as well as being nominated for the Jan Pentland Memorial Award in the same year. She is currently works as a financial counsellor covering the Wimmera, and is experienced in the issues affecting regional FCs and their clients.
NARELLE CLARK
Secretary
Narelle has worked as a Financial Counsellor at CAFS in Ballarat for two and a half years. Bringing thirteen years of retail banking experience and knowledge to the role has proven advantageous.
Narelle is motivated by empowering vulnerable people and the ability to make change in the community one person and one family at a time.
Narelle is a passionate financial counsellor, driven by the challenge of advocating for economic and social justice.
DAVID BALCOMBE
Treasurer
David is a financial counsellor at Uniting Lentara at Broadmeadows and Brunswick. He has come to that role after a long career at a top 4 accounting firm. He is energised by working for fairness and justice for vulnerable people using the skills learned during his previous career. He is a member of a government sector finance, audit and risk committee and the board of the not for profit Australian Nurses Memorial Centre, honouring the service of nurses in conflict.
SARAH DAVIDSON
Deputy Chairperson
Sarah is a passionate and experienced Financial Counsellor having been in the sector for over 10 years. With interest areas around homelessness and family violence, most recently she has been involved in the gambling space with a particular lens on women and their involvement in the criminal justice system. Sarah also teaches into the Diploma of Financial Counselling and is dedicated to supporting the sectors' newest practitioners. She is motivated by systemic changes for the sector, empowerment of clients and changing poverty cycles in the community.
TRISH DENNIS
Board member
After 25 years in the financial services sector, Trish transitioned to financial counselling in 2010. With a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from RMIT and various financial, teaching and training qualifications, Trish has been privileged to work with many Victorians as they navigate their complex financial positions.
Trish is also a board member of St. Joseph’s Outreach Services who provide temporary emergency accommodation and food services to those in need.
LISA GARLICK
Board member
Lisa came to financial counselling after successfully assisting her local community to advocate with the state government for financial assistance for a highly costly sewerage scheme. Prior to that she had extensive retail experience, including owning and managing her own businesses; trained in book-keeping (no computers then) with a passion for service delivery.
Lisa feels she is privileged to represent the financial counsellors of Victoria on the FCVic Board once again. Her desire is to share the knowledge and skills she has gained with other financial counsellors, and to work alongside the other Board members to support the sector.
JENNIFER HOLDSTOCK
Board member
Jennifer is founding principal of Holdstock Law, a Melbourne based, boutique litigation practice. She has more than 15 years’ experience in general commercial litigation.
With a Bachelor of Arts/Law from Monash University and a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne, Jennifer has worked in private practice and in-house, and has particular experience in good governance and risk management.
MARK PHILLIPS
Board member
Biography to come.
MICHAEL WHITE
Board member
Michael is a Rural Financial Counsellor at Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria West and is based in Horsham. He has been a full member of FCVic for a number of years and has been a CPA member for over 20 years. He has experience in income tax, bookkeeping, management and financial accounting. Michael operated a small business for 6 years and has taught accounting at TAFE.
JENNY WILKINS
Board member
Jenny has a health sector background. For 28 years, she conducted an independent consultancy in public and private hospitals, professional organisations, peak bodies and regional health services. Her areas of specialty included dental, mental, primary, acute and specialist health. Jenny also has a diverse governance background and her current governance appointments are in quality and risk in the health sector. She has a strong commitment to social justice and equality.
BERNADETTE PASCO
Deputy Chairperson
Bernadette Pasco has been a financial counsellor for over 15 years. She has worked to develop the sector nationally, and is the current Executive Officer of ICAN Learn and Business and Workforce Development manager of ICAN / ICAN Learn. Bernadette is passionate about standards of financial counselling education since it influences the way financial counsellors work with clients. Bernadette is experienced in leadership, governance and change management.
MAX SMART
Secretary
Max has worked as a financial counsellor for four years at Good Shepherd, and now at Cranbourne Information & Support Service. He spent 30 years working for a bakery franchise company & running a small business after completing an accounting degree. Prior to entering the community sector, he volunteered for MIND (in the partnership & linkages program) which strengthened his commitment to the need for social justice.
Our Team
DR SANDY ROSS
Executive Officer
Sandy joined FCVic in September 2017. He has most recently worked as a consultant, and at the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, and prior to that, as an academic and researcher, and in roles representing federal public sector science agency staff. In the community sector, Sandy has Chaired the Boards of Fitzroy Learning Network and UnitingCare ReGen (now Uniting ReGen), and in 2000 undertook Leadership Victoria’s Williamson Community Leadership Program. He also plays keyboards for the band The Menage (aka Menage a Ska).
VICKI BURKE
Executive Assistant to
Dr Sandy Ross
Vicki joined FCVic April 2020 taking up the position of Executive Assistant to Sandy Ross. Prior to commencing at FCVic Vicki worked in the homelessness sector for seven years, providing high level support to Board and Executive. Vicki’s strong commitment to social justice is evidenced by previous roles and experience working in community health and not-for-profit legal services.
TANJA HAEUSLER
Training Manager
Tanja joined FCVic in May 2018 as the Training Manager. Tanja initially started off her career in the community sector while studying toward her Masters in Adult Education. She has since worked as a Learning and Development Consultant putting together and organising leadership trainings for corporate clients. Tanja first started learning about the work of financial counsellors when taking on a contractual role as Trainer/ Developer of Financial Capabilities Coaching with Good Shepherd ANZ.
DR SUZY GOLDSMITH
Lead - Special Projects
Suzy joined FCVic during 2020 to lead our special projects.
She is experienced in conceiving and delivering on projects, most recently in the not-for-profit sector. Her background is in water, sustainability, innovation and risk, in a mixture of consulting and research settings. She enjoys bringing form to messy community challenges and creating space for multiple perspectives. She brings a practical sensibility to what people can and will do, and a willingness to road-test and refine solutions based on feedback.
GEORGIA ROBENSTONE
Campaigns & Advocacy Manager
Georgia commenced at FCVic in February 2019 as Executive Assistant to Sandy Ross and returned in May 2020 as Project Officer after a brief hiatus in Scotland. Prior to working at FCVic, she worked at the Consumers’ Federation of Australia and in various customer service roles while studying.
Georgia really values the opportunity to work collaboratively with financial counsellors. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature and with friends.
JAMES DEGENHARDT
Communications and Membership Manager
Before starting with FCVic in 2016, James worked as a Student Services Manager in the VET sector. As well as managing membership administration, James edits the monthly e-newsletter, the Devil’s Advocate. He enjoys the variety of the role, which connects him with financial counsellors around Victoria.
JULIE BARROW
Family Violence and Professionalisation Lead
Biography to come.
SHWETA PATHAK
Training Officer
Shweta joined FCVic in August 2020 as Training Officer. She came to Australia in late 2008, and after quickly adjusting to the new environment started working in the Customer Service Sector.
Shweta has over 10 years of experience working in the International, VET and Tertiary Education sectors. Working in Melbourne has given her the opportunity to interact with people from all over the globe.
Outside of work, Shweta enjoys spending time with family and cooking (or in other words "playing with spices").
JOY MASON
Disaster Recovery Coordinator
Joy joined FCVic in August 2020 as the Workforce Development Officer. Joy has been an FC for the last five years, working in metro, regional and remote locations.
Previous to FC, Joy has worked as a programme manager in Mental Health services, Project Management and Community Development roles in Local Government and not for profit community based organisations. These roles involved workforce development and cultural change and is an area that Joy is particularly motivated around.
RON ROWLEY
Accounts
Ron is a long term employee of FCVic where he manages the finances of the organisation. Away from FCVic, he can be found walking, riding his bicycle, or volunteering with several charities throughout Melbourne.
SOOZ BOAG
Digital Communications Officer
Sooz joins FCVic with a background in architecture and graphic design, as well as a broad administrative work history covering office management, marketing and bookkeeping. In previous workplaces Sooz has been involved in establishing cultural and philanthropic initiatives, as well as organising staff events.
Outside the office, Sooz is a passionate cook, sourdough baker and beginner yoga practitioner.
BELLA WALKER
Projects Officer
Prior to joining the FCVic team, Bella worked in education for 10 years, most recently as the Head of English at a tuition centre. She has an academic background in English, art history and art conservation. Her teaching practice is founded on the importance of empathetic listening and empowering young people through knowledge – qualities that are also at the core of financial counselling. She is excited to apply her skills and experience in her new role as Project Officer.
In her spare time, Bella enjoys reading, running and spending time with friends.