Recognising Excellence
Each year FCVic recognises members who have demonstrated excellence in service to our profession and the wider community through five awards:
- Virginia Noonan Award
- Jan Pentland Memorial Award
- Rising Star Award
- Financial Capability Worker Award
- Team Excellence Award
Virginia Noonan Award
The Virginia Noonan Award was established in 2009, in and honours Virginia’s outstanding contributions to our organisation and the profession in delivering pioneering training and resources throughout the 1990s.
The Virginia Noonan Award is awarded to a current or former Accredited Member of FCVic who has demonstrated excellence in service to our profession or their clients.
Examples could include but are not limited to:
- Successful advocacy and input into a test case to alter policy or legislation in regard to a financial or consumer issue
- Resolving an extremely complex financial counselling case with far reaching implications, resulting in systemic change
- Developing and presenting innovative community development/education initiatives
- Serving on boards or committees in the consumer advocacy space
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
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.
Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award is for an Associate or Student (Intern) Member of FCVic who has demonstrated excellence in financial counselling service delivery.
Examples could include but are not limited to:
- Successful advocacy on a case that displayed innovation or original thinking
- Resolving a complex financial counselling case
- Developing and presenting innovative Community Development/ Education initiatives
This award is for a financial counsellor who has recently completed the Diploma of Financial Counselling or who is currently completing the diploma. The nominee must have less than three years’ membership with FCVic.
Financial Capability Worker Award
New in 2026, the Financial Capability Worker Award recognises an FCVic member’s achievements in financial literacy and capability.
The award celebrates excellence in the design or delivery of financial capability programs, innovative approaches to community education, and meaningful outcomes that empower people to make informed financial decisions and build long-term financial wellbeing.
Celebrating excellence in financial capability practice that empowers lasting financial wellbeing.
The Team Excellence Award recognises that lasting change often comes from working together.
Team Excellence Award
First awarded in 2025, this award recognises a team or organisation that has delivered outstanding service to their community. This includes achievements in one or more of the following areas:
- Improving access to financial counselling for vulnerable or at-risk communities
- Contributing to policy reform and systemic advocacy
- Innovating in program delivery, such as through integrated models or data collection demonstrating impact