As we approach the end of the financial year, it’s a significant milestone for all of us at FCVic – staff and members alike. This period not only marks the culmination of a busy first half of the year but also sets the stage for crucial changes in grants, programs, and budgeting. The past six months have been incredibly eventful, marked by a record high number of substantial submissions, our ongoing resourcing campaign, the successful Summit, the critical May budget, and our planning for the upcoming Conference.
Looking ahead, we in the FCVic office will be holding a mid-cycle planning session in July. This will be an essential opportunity for us to reflect on our progress and consider how we might need to shift our focus for the second half of the year in response to new and evolving circumstances. It’s a chance to realign our strategies and ensure we are best positioned to meet the needs of our members and the vulnerable clients they support.
Despite these achievements, there remains a significant amount of uncertainty regarding the future of several key programs and our work to advocate for specialist financial counselling services continues to be crucial. Everything our financial counsellors work on continually builds the sector’s capacity to support individuals experiencing hardship and we remain committed to this advocacy, knowing that it is fundamental to sustaining and enhancing the services available to vulnerable Victorians.
One of the major developments we are eagerly anticipating is the opening of Consumer Affairs Victoria’s Expression of Interest for the Financial Counselling Program. This represents a significant boost in funding and an opportunity for us to further strengthen our services. We have been actively consulting with CAV to ensure this process is effective and beneficial for all involved. This funding boost to the sector requires a major priority shift for us in the next half of the year to support agencies and the sector to make the most of this opportunity. This will form a central theme in our mid-cycle planning session.
The EOFY also brings with it a period of change, with some key programs undergoing substantial modifications and others, sadly, coming to an end. Good programs often end too soon and uncertainty in future program design is all too common for the community sector. Both of these issues are regular features of our feedback to government about future planning, and while we are used to them as a sector they are still very frustrating. However, it is also a time to recognise and celebrate the impactful work these programs have achieved in supporting Victoria’s most vulnerable populations. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in these programs. Your dedication and hard work have made a profound difference, and we wish you all the best as you embark on the next stage of your journey. Let’s continue to work together, support one another, and remain committed to our mission of assisting those in need.