It has been a full and focused month. The issues we are seeing across the sector are not easing, and the importance of staying closely connected to members and communities has never been clearer.

A key priority for us has been getting out and spending time with financial counsellors and agencies across the state. Recent visits to services in Mildura and the Mallee, alongside meetings with local organisations and community leaders, have been invaluable. These conversations are shaping our agenda in a very direct way. They ground our advocacy in what is actually happening on the ground and ensure that our work reflects the realities facing both practitioners and the people they support.

What we are hearing is consistent. Fuel pressures are significant, particularly in regional areas, but they are not occurring in isolation. They sit alongside ongoing housing stress, limited access to healthcare, rising food costs and broader cost of living pressures. Together, these factors are compounding financial strain and making it harder for people to seek and receive support.

These insights continue to inform our advocacy. In recent weeks, FCVic has contributed to submissions across disaster recovery, banking, insurance, rental reform and essential services. We have also worked in close partnership with Community Information and Support Victoria and Neighbourhood Houses Victoria to put forward practical, coordinated responses to cost of living pressures. I am grateful for these partnerships. The alignment across our sectors strengthens the case for action and helps ensure that the voices of communities are heard clearly.

We have seen some early progress through this collective work. The Victorian Government’s extension of free public transport, followed by discounted fares, reflects one of the measures we called for together. There remains more to do, particularly for communities without access to public transport and for services managing increased travel costs, but this is a constructive step.

We are also continuing to contribute to longer-term system responses. The recent Housing Resilience Action Plan, developed with partners including Finity, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Resilient Building Council, ARC Justice and Monash University, builds on the Legacy Housing workshop held last year. That process brought together a broad group of experts to identify practical ways to improve insurance affordability and housing resilience. The Action Plan takes this further, calling for a coordinated national approach and setting out clear, system-level actions. This is important work. It recognises that these challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require sustained collaboration across sectors and levels of government.

Looking ahead, much of the FCVic team will be attending the Financial Counselling Australia Conference in Cairns next week. The theme this year is Momentum, which feels well placed. There is a sense that the work across the country is building, and that stronger coordination and shared learning will be essential in the period ahead. I am also looking forward to attending with my family. The balance between work and family life is not always straightforward, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with them.

We are also preparing for the release of the State Budget and the next phase of our advocacy in the lead‑up to the November election. This includes developing materials to support financial counsellors and their agencies to engage in shaping the policy conversation around cost of living pressures and community need.

Finally, I want to acknowledge Julie Barrow, who has recently concluded her time as Family Violence Lead at FCVic. Julie has made a significant contribution over the past five years. She brought care, clarity and deep expertise to complex and often difficult work, particularly through her leadership on key submissions and her advocacy for people experiencing family violence. She has strengthened our organisation and our sector, and she will be missed. We are grateful for all she has given and wish her well for what comes next.

Thank you, as always, for the work you do each day and for your continued engagement with FCVic.