FCVic has supported a joint submission led by Financial Counselling Australia to the Fair Work Commission as part of the Gender Undervaluation Priority Awards Review of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Award. The submission welcomes the Commission’s recognition of systemic gender-based undervaluation in care and community sector work but raises serious concerns about how proposed classification changes may unintentionally disadvantage new financial counsellors entering the workforce.

With over 70% of financial counsellors being women and the majority currently employed at SCHADS Level 5, the submission highlights the risks of a two-tier workforce emerging—where experienced workers retain existing pay levels while new entrants may be placed on lower pay despite doing the same complex, skilled work. It calls for the Diploma of Financial Counselling to be recognised as the profession’s highest credential and urges the Commission to ensure that reforms safeguard the sustainability and fairness of this essential, predominantly female workforce.

Australia’s peak financial counselling bodies have jointly submitted a review of BetStop, the national self-exclusion register for online and phone wagering. Representing over 1,200 financial counsellors, the submission recognises BetStop as a critical tool in addressing gambling harm. While the initiative is generally effective, the submission highlights key areas for improvement—such as stronger enforcement for non-compliant gambling providers, integration with other self-exclusion schemes, and better support systems for users. Specific recommendations include requiring professional support before early self-exclusion termination, increased transparency, and tackling unlicensed offshore gambling. The submission calls for BetStop to be part of a broader strategy, including the banning of gambling advertisements, to effectively reduce harm.

Collaborating Organisations:

• Financial Counselling Victoria (FCVic)
• Financial Counsellors’ Association of NSW Inc
• Financial Counsellors’ Association of Western Australia
• South Australian Financial Counsellors Association
• Financial Counselling Queensland
• Financial Counselling Australia

Consumer rights organisations, led by the Financial Rights Legal Centre, have endorsed the proposed reforms to Centrepay, Centrelink’s bill-paying service. The submission, backed by over a dozen advocacy groups, applauds the realignment of Centrepay to its original purpose—supporting financial wellbeing for vulnerable Australians. Key reforms include removing high-risk service categories (e.g. consumer leases, funeral expenses), introducing mandatory deduction limits, strengthening business oversight, and improving customer protections. The submission emphasises the need for robust enforcement, enhanced customer transparency, and safeguards against financial exploitation, especially in remote communities. It also recommends long-term legislative backing to ensure the program’s integrity.

Collaborating Organisations:

• Financial Rights Legal Centre
• Australian Communications Consumer Action Network
• AnglicareNT
• Brotherhood of St Laurence
• Care
• CatholicCareNT
• CHOICE
• Consumer Action Law Centre
• Consumer Credit Legal Service WA
• Economic Justice Australia
• Financial Counselling Australia
• Financial Counselling Victoria
• Mob Strong Debt Help
• Money Mob Talkabout
• Redfern Legal Centre
• South Australian Financial Counselling Association
• Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service (WA)

This joint submission responds to the Essential Services Commission’s (ESC) Victorian Default Offer (VDO) 2025–26 draft decision. While consumer advocates welcome the ESC’s decision to maintain price stability in most regions, they highlight ongoing concerns about electricity affordability, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis. The submission emphasises that even modest price increases continue to place pressure on vulnerable Victorians, many of whom are already experiencing energy debt and financial hardship.

The submission makes a series of key recommendations, including the need for greater transparency in retail cost data, improvements to retailer conduct, and the adoption of complementary measures—such as a targeted social tariff—to support low-income households. Case studies throughout the submission illustrate how rising energy costs and inconsistent retailer support continue to impact people experiencing poverty, financial abuse, and disadvantage.

This is a joint submission made by the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS), Brotherhood of St. Laurence, Consumer Action Law Centre, Council on the Ageing Victoria, Energy Consumers Australia, Financial Counselling Victoria, and Uniting. Together, these organisations bring deep insight into the lived experience of Victorians navigating the energy market. Collectively, they work towards a future where everyone in Victoria can live free from hardship and experience genuine wellbeing.

FCVic’s submission to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) consultation on the Approach to family violence and Approach to financial elder abuse (the Approaches) highlights the critical need for trauma-informed, safety-first practices when addressing financial complaints involving these complex issues. Drawing on the expertise of Victorian financial counsellors, the submission advocates for stronger language, clearer evidentiary standards, and improved procedural safeguards to prevent further harm to victim-survivors.

The submission makes a series of detailed recommendations aimed at improving AFCA’s complaint handling processes, including adopting more inclusive and respectful terminology, recognising the evidentiary challenges faced by victim-survivors, and strengthening safeguards around identity verification, insurance cancellations, and power of attorney misuse. It also calls for a review of industry standards and case examples to ensure AFCA’s Approaches reflect current best practice and lived realities.

FCVic urges Australian Financial Security Authority to prioritise addressing financial abuse, coercive control, gambling harm, and the impact of unregulated lenders in its 2025-26 Regulatory Action Statement. The submission highlights the need for stronger enforcement, legislative advocacy, and clearer guidance to protect vulnerable individuals from financial distress and exploitation.