Virginia Noonan Award
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
About Virginia Noonan
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.
Virginia’s involvement in the financial counselling sector goes back more than 30 years. In June 2014, the Devil’s Advocate published an interview with Virginia Noonan, an FCVic life member. We thank her for her time providing this interview.
Past recipients of the
Virginia Noonan Award
2025 – Julie Dal Pra
2024 – Claire Tacon
2023 – Kaye Norris
2022 – Carly Baker
2020 – Elizabeth Stary
2019 – Tracey Grinter
2018 – Colin Handreck
2017 – Rachna Bowman
2016 – Donna Letchford
2015 – Ian Liddell
2014 – Garry Rothman
2013 – Robyn Shepherd-Murdoch
2012 – Ange Upton
2011 – Liz Fiveash
2010 – Judy Egan
Nomination process
Nominations are now open for the Virginia Noonan 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 Virginia Noonan for her support of this award.
Nomination process
Nominations for the Virginia Noonan Award are currently closed.
Award presentation:
The award is presented at the annual FCVic Gala Awards Event.
FCVic thanks Virginia Noonan for her 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% |
| Leadership and innovation | 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.