National Voice for Financial Counselling
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) is the peak body for financial counsellors in Australia.
People from all walks of life can find themselves with money problems. Financial counsellors are non-judgmental, trained professionals that can help. They provide information, support and advocacy to people in financial difficulty. Working in community organisations, their services are free, independent and confidential.
Financial Counselling Australia is a member of the Consumers’ Federation of Australia.
struggling to pay the mortgage or rent or juggling debts? . . .
Go to our consumer website: debtselfhelp.org.au
Use the "Debt Self Help" tool for a tailored assessment about your situation and options, read a fact sheet or download a letter to send to a creditor or debt collector.
find a financial counsellor in your state or territory . . .
A directory of telephone contacts and face-to-face services.
? learn more
Conferences
Registrations for 2013 FCA Conference and the EDR Forum are now open. Please click here to go to the dedicated conference website.
Pre-conference Twilight Workshops: Monday 20th May, 3 pm - 7 pm
FCA Conference: Tuesday 21st May and Wednesday 22nd May
EDR Forum: Thursday 23rd May.
The Jan Pentland Foundation Dinner is on the evening of Wednesday 22nd May.
Do Not Knock
Financial counsellors see too many clients who have been ripped off by unscruplous door-to-door salespeople. The problem is particularly acute in ATSI communities.
This is why FCA is helping to distribute Do Not Knock stickers in Indigenous communities. We are also part of a broader Do Not Knock campaign - there is more information at
www.donotknock.org.au
A recent court decision has confirmed that salespeople who ignore a Do Not Knock sticker are breaking the law.
media releases
Financial Counsellors Celebrate Professional Milestone
1st March 2013 - Financial counsellors around Australia are today celebrating a major leap forward for the profession: legal protection of the terms “financial counsellor” and “finan
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Banking Code Welcomed by Financial Counsellors
31st January 2013 - Financial counsellors have welcomed today’s release of a revised Code of Banking Practice.
Banks obviously already have to comply with a number of laws –
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Time to Move "Hardship" out of the Too Hard Basket
26th November 2012 - Financial difficulty disputes have increased by 42% according to the recent annual report from the Financial Ombudsman Service.
This comes on top of an increase of 130% i
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