Jan Pentland Memorial Award
The Jan Pentland Memorial Award is awarded to a current or former* Accredited Member of FCVic who has demonstrated excellence in financial counselling service to the wider community**.
Examples could include but are not limited to:
- Contributing to the welfare of the wider community in some way while working as a financial counsellor.
- Providing financial counselling input to a community development activity
- Helping a community recover from a natural disaster
*It would be expected that if awarded to a former member, that individual would have held Accredited Membership within the past two years.
**For the purposes of this award, ‘community’ is defined as either geographic community/local area, broader geographic community/Victoria/Australia/internationally or community of identity or purpose regardless of location. For example indigenous community, women, youth, people affected by family violence, asylum seekers etc.
About Jan Pentland
Jan Pentland was a life-long advocate for social justice and inclusion. In addition to her time as Chairperson of the FCRC Board (FCVic’s predecessor organisation), Jan made significant contributions to the national peak, AFCCRA (now Financial Counselling Australia, FCA). Her advocacy led to AFFCRA being funded for the first time in 2009.
Jan passed away in 2009, but continues to be an inspiration to our sector.
In June 2014, the Devil’s Advocate published an interview with David Morawetz, Jan’s partner. Jan’s informative contributions to the Devil’s Advocate were a highlight for many years. We thank David for his time providing this interview.
Past recipients of the
Jan Pentland Memorial Award
2025 – Heather Neilson
2024 – Catherine McKenzie
2023 – Julie Wentworth & Laura Powell
2022 – Michele Padbury
2020 – Leonie Cooke
2019 – Sandra Blake
2018 – Jo Parkin
2017 – Lisa Garlick
2016 – Mona Mrad
2015 – Maria Turnbull
2014 – Jill Com & Jenny Elvey
2013 – Rhonda Mahoney
2012 – John Mumford
2011 – Ken Slatter
2010 – Barry White
Nomination process
Nominations are now open for the Jan Pentland Memorial Award.
Closing date for nominations:
Nominations close at 11.59PM on Sunday, 30 August 2026.
Award presentation:
The award is presented at the annual FCVic Gala Awards Event.
The 2026 FCVic Gala Awards event will be held on Thursday, 8 October.
FCVic thanks David Morawetz for his support of this award.
Nomination process
Nominations for the Jan Pentland Memorial Award are currently closed.
Award presentation:
The award is presented at the annual FCVic Gala Awards Event.
FCVic thanks David Morawetz for his support of this award.
Criteria and selection
Nominations are assessed by an independent Awards Selection Panel appointed by the FCVic Board. Each nomination is considered on its merits against the award criteria below. The weighting assigned to each criterion indicates its relative importance in the overall assessment. The Panel will consider the quality of the evidence provided, the significance of the nominee’s contribution, and the demonstrated impact of their achievements.
| Criterion | Weight |
| Excellence in financial counselling practice | 30% |
| Contribution to the wider community | 30% |
| Professional integrity and values | 20% |
| Positive influence and impact | 20% |
When preparing your nomination, focus on providing specific examples that demonstrate the nominee’s achievements and the impact of their contribution. Strong nominations describe what the nominee did, why it was significant, and the difference it made, rather than relying on general praise or personal opinion.
Nominations are assessed on the information provided. The Panel is not required to seek additional information or clarification.
The Panel, at their discretion and subject to eligibility, may reallocate nominations to a different award category where they determine the nominee better fits another category. The Panel can choose not to confer an award if they deem that no nominees meet the criteria.
The Panel will provide recommendations for the awards on a confidential basis to the FCVic Board. The awards recommended by the Panel will be considered by the Board for ratification. If a recommendation is not ratified the award will not be conferred. The Board’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.