Reports and Submissions
Read the latest reports and submissions from FCVic on a range of topics significant to financial counsellors, consumer advocates and the wider community.
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Counting the Costs: report on financial counsellor stress and work overload
- Published: 3 February 2020
- Topics: Worker Wellbeing
The level of risk of harm for financial counsellors from their work has risen to unacceptable levels in recent years, with little coordinated effort being put in place to manage those risks appropriately.
In 2019, Financial Counselling Victoria (FCVic, formerly FCRC) conducted an extensive survey of the state’s financial counsellors in order to measure the levels of stress and burnout experienced by the sector. The results – based on responses from more than 160 practitioners – paint a clear picture of unsustainable workloads and mounting pressures which pose a serious threat to the well-being of financial counsellors.
Through the recommendations of the report, we are eager to work with financial counsellors, their employing agencies and funding bodies to address and resolve the causes of the current situation.
Submission to the Local Government Rating System Review
- Published: 1 November 2019
- Topics: Hardship: Industry Practice, Local Councils
As the peak body for financial counsellors in Victoria, FCRC has had considerable feedback from its members raising concerns about how councils respond to vulnerable people in the community experiencing hardship resulting from rate charges and rate arrears. These issues are essential to address if Victoria’s rating system is to be fair and equitable for everyone in the community.
In its submission to the Rating System Review, FCRC has recommended that the State Government, in consultation with peak bodies and consumer organisations develop and introduce mandated hardship and related processes for Councils to adopt and implement.
The Experience of (Not) Living on Newstart: Data and stories from financial counselling clients
- Published: 12 October 2019
- Topics: Social Security and Centrelink
Between February and May 2019, 111 people who were clients of financial counsellors shared their stories about trying to live on the Newstart allowance. They also provided information about their weekly income and expenditure showing that it is simply impossible for many people to make ends meet on the current rate.
FCRC Annual Report 2018-19
- Published: 9 October 2019
Read the FCRC Annual Report for 2018-19
FCRC Annual Report 2017-18
- Published: 18 October 2018
Read the FCRC Annual Report for 2017-18
Rank the Telco 2017
- Published: 27 April 2017
- Topics: Hardship: Industry Practice, Telecommunications
The Rank the Telco report describes the results of a survey of Victorian financial counsellors about the hardship practices of major telecommunications providers. It is FCRC’s fourth report ranking financial hardship practices, and our first to examine the telecommunications sector.
The results of this report evidence the need for improvement and warrant serious consideration by the telecommunications industry, regulators, government and other stakeholders. Providers now have the opportunity to take the lead and work to significantly improve hardship performance, both individually and across the industry.