On Wednesday, 27 November, FCVic organised a significant one-hour briefing session at Parliament House for all sitting Victorian MPs. This event aimed to provide insights into the state of financial hardship in Victoria, the needs of the financial counselling sector and to present our 2025–26 State Budget Submission.
A Key Advocacy Opportunity
Building on our ongoing engagement with state Ministers and MPs, we invited them to hear directly from a dozen FCVic members to engage with the key issues outlined in our budget submission. Representatives from diverse areas of the sector, including family violence, small business, disaster recovery, prisons, housing, health, and financial literacy, attended to share their perspectives and experiences, and the unique needs of their client cohorts.
The financial counsellors present aligned closely with the core priorities in our budget submission, making a compelling case for the vital role our sector plays in addressing financial hardship in Victoria.
Strong Engagement from MPs
On the day, MPs and their advisors from various parties attended to learn more about our work and the challenges faced by Victorians experiencing financial hardship. This engagement was a promising step toward fostering stronger partnerships and gaining direct support for our State Budget Submission.
Next Steps
Following the briefing, we have actively followed up with MPs, sharing key resources and encouraging them to advocate directly with the Treasurer to secure critical funding for our sector by supporting our State Budget Submission. These efforts aim to create a more sustainable future for financial counselling in Victoria, through funding specialisations, supporting incoming and new financial counsellors, and strengthening related services like financial capability workers.
We extend our thanks to the Hon. Gabrielle Williams MP, Minister for Consumer Affairs, for her assistance in making this important event possible.
Thank You to Our Sector Representatives
We are incredibly grateful to the financial counsellors who attended the briefing. The thoughtful conversations had in the room, informed by the expertise of financial counsellors, left a lasting impression on MPs and their advisors. These impactful discussions are essential in driving meaningful change.
We will continue to provide updates on the progress of our State Budget Submission and opportunities for further engagement.
If you would like more information about our State Budget Submission or advocacy work, please reach out to us at [email protected].