FCVic 2024 Summit
Join us on Wednesday, 20 March for the the FCVic 2024 Summit: The Changing Face of Hardship, at The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne.
This special one-day event promises to be a profound exploration of the challenges currently being experienced by Victorians due to rising living costs.
FCVic 2024 Summit: The Changing Face of Hardship
Wednesday, 20 March 2024 – The Timber Yard, Port Melbourne
Following the success of the 2021 Summit, on 20 March 2024, FCVic will hold its second Summit: The Changing Face of Hardship, at The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne.
This special one-day event promises to be a profound exploration of the challenges currently being experienced by Victorians due to rising living costs.
In a period of constant change, the dynamics of hardship are undergoing a significant transformation. The FCVic 2024 Summit aims to shed light on these changes and foster a deeper understanding of the issues faced by individuals and communities across Victoria. As we collectively navigate through these challenges, it is imperative to engage in meaningful discussions that pave the way for innovative solutions.
Key highlights you can look forward to:
- Expert Insights: Gain valuable insights from industry experts, community partners, financial counsellors and policymakers as they delve into the nuanced aspects of hardship and its impact on diverse demographics.
- Interactive Panels: Engage in four dynamic panel discussions that explore the evolving landscape of hardship focusing on, ‘The Cost of Living’, ‘Climate Change and Hardship’, ‘Responding to the Housing Crisis’ and ‘Complexity and Intersectionality.’
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals, advocates, and community leaders who share a common interest in understanding and addressing the changing face of hardship in Victoria.
- Innovative Solutions: This is an important event which aims to influence social policy reforms, and shape the future of hardship. Your participation is vital in building better long-term outcomes for the communities we work with.
Message from Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope, Executive Officer, FCVic
In the lead up to the October 2023 Financial Counselling Victoria Conference, a recurring term echoed through various channels: the ‘cost-of-living crisis.’ This refrain wasn’t limited to financial counsellors, creditors, and industry stakeholders; it resonated in newspapers, animated discussions on radio, television and podcasts, and found a place on the lips of politicians across the spectrum.
Starting in May 2022, the Reserve Bank of Australia embarked on a series of interest rate hikes spanning 14 meetings, amounting to a cumulative increase of 425 basis points. According to estimates, this escalation translated to an additional burden of over $1,200 per month in interest for those repaying a $500,000 mortgage – a substantial sum and financial strain affecting a wide cross-section of the population, including individuals employed full-time who are categorised as ‘middle-class.’
In the wake of these economic shifts, a noteworthy trend emerged: a new demographic found itself grappling with adversity – individuals who had never encountered financial hardship before. These were people navigating the intricacies of the financial system, grappling with debt, and seeking assistance from financial counsellors for the very first time in their lives.
The thematic focus of the FCVic 2024 Summit, ‘The Changing Face of Hardship,’ aims to explore how the broader financial industry and financial counsellors are adapting to this evolving landscape. The event brings together diverse stakeholders for a day filled
with stimulating panel discussions, insightful speakers, and invaluable interactions at exhibitor booths.
We eagerly anticipate fostering in-depth conversations with representatives from various sectors of the industry and are thrilled at the prospect of your participation in this enlightening summit. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Event Partners
As a Summit partner, we want to place you front and centre, to meet and speak directly with the financial counsellors who represent your customers in financial hardship. Our last conference saw over 350 people attend the event across the three days; forming many new connections and ensuring that this unique opportunity for face-to-face discussions was not wasted.
Our suite of tailored packages offer even more opportunities to build and maintain relationships within a large targeted audience. The conference programme is a constant work in progress, continuing our commitment to ensure cross-sector collaboration and increasing opportunities for networking and stakeholder engagement, whilst building the profile of your organisation.