Every year at our Conference Gala Dinner, we honour outstanding individuals who have shown exemplary dedication to our profession and the broader community. This year, we celebrated the achievements of some extraordinary members through three distinguished awards:
- Virginia Noonan Award
- Jan Pentland Memorial Award
- Rising Star Award
Additionally, we were thrilled to recognise an individual whose long-standing contributions have made a lasting impact on the financial counselling sector with an Honorary Life Membership.
Virginia Noonan Award
The Virginia Noonan Award is presented to an Accredited Member of FCVic who has demonstrated exceptional service to our profession or their clients, going above and beyond their regular responsibilities as a financial counsellor. This year’s recipient has over eight years of experience in the sector and has made remarkable contributions, including:
- Achieving significant client outcomes through direct engagement and complex case work,
- Training and mentoring financial counsellors across Australia,
- Providing crucial telephone advice nationwide,
- Advocating on sector-wide consumer issues,
- Amplifying consumer debt issues through media involvement, and
- Representing consumers on external task forces.
We are proud to announce Claire Tacon, a dedicated employee at the Consumer Action Law Centre, as the 2024 Virginia Noonan Award recipient.
Jan Pentland Memorial Award
The Jan Pentland Memorial Award honours an Accredited Member of FCVic for outstanding service to the wider community in their financial counselling role. This year, we are delighted to present this award to Cathy McKenzie.
Since beginning her journey in 2013 at Banyule Community Health, Cathy has emerged as a passionate leader. Embodying the values of social justice championed by Jan Pentland, Cathy has fostered strong collaborations across health, welfare, and legal networks to ensure holistic support for those in need. Her innovative approach has doubled Banyule’s financial counselling capacity by implementing a mentoring model to train and guide students and volunteers. Cathy’s leadership in digital inclusion has also been transformative, advocating for those without access to essential digital resources.
Cathy is an inspiring force for change, consistently working to enhance systems and support those experiencing hardship. This year, we were honoured to have several members of Jan’s family at the Gala Dinner to present this award to Cathy.
Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award celebrates an Associate or Student (Intern) Member of FCVic who has shown exemplary dedication in financial counselling service delivery. This year’s Rising Star is Michael Hartnett, who joined Anglicare Victoria’s Western Melbourne team in February 2023.
Michael’s commitment has been unwavering, especially in his support of clients affected by the 2022 floods. His work has yielded over $250,000 in waived or refunded interest payments, and his advocacy has contributed to critical improvements in bank hardship policies. His dedication to ensuring fair insurance payouts for those recovering from disaster has further highlighted his commitment to justice and equity.
Congratulations to Michael, whose passion for positive change exemplifies the spirit of a true Rising Star in our profession.
Honouring Margaret Taig with an Honorary Life Membership
This year, we are delighted to announce the induction of Margaret Taig as an Honorary Life Member of FCVic. The FCVic Board may recommend such an honour for an Accredited Member whose long-standing contributions to the financial counselling sector are truly exceptional.
Margaret’s involvement in financial counselling began in 1979 as a volunteer at Dandenong Valley Family Care. Her career includes work at FCVic’s predecessor, CAFCA, and more recently, leadership roles with the Southern Metro Network and South East Community Links. Known for her pioneering efforts, Margaret has built strong, respectful relationships within the Aboriginal community and has been instrumental in delivering Victoria’s first “Bring Your Bills” day with a focus on Aboriginal community support.
A quiet achiever yet a leader and mentor, Margaret’s contributions have left an indelible mark on our sector. At the AGM, it was an honour to have Rachna Madaan-Bowman and Kay Dilger speak in strong support of Margaret’s nomination, underscoring her impact and dedication. Her family joined us as she received this recognition, making it a truly special moment for all present.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all our award recipients. Their dedication, passion, and tireless work inspire us all to continue striving for excellence and making a difference in our communities.