Consumer Affairs Victoria offer a referal helpline service for members of the public wishing to contact a financial counsellor.  The telephone number is 1300 55 81 81.

Professional development is a core activity of Council.  It serves as a vehicle to develop and enhance the current skill base of members in a range of practice areas. 

By providing this member service, Council aims to assist member agencies in delivering quality and consistent services to clients accessing their respective programs as well as assist members to meet their Funding and Service Agreement obligations, for example with respect to Duty of Care requirements.

The Council aims to impact on government and industry policies and practices on a range of consumer related matters.   Council continues to be active in preparing responses and input into government and industry inquires, reviews, initiatives, policies and practices.

FCRC has previously focused on a range of issues including:

• Energy reform
• Debt collection practices
• Young people and credit
• Income security
• Disputes resolution procedures in financial institutions
• Poverty reducing measures
• Problem gambling
• Bankruptcy
• Bankruptcy reform

FCRC has a strong commitment to community education and regards this function as critical in informing people of their rights as consumers, including the services available within the community, bringing community awareness to issues confronting low income households as well as the policy solutions to such issues.

As part of our community education role, individuals and organizations often approach Council to provide information and training sessions on various topics. 

These topics have included – advocacy and case management, what is financial counseling, the role of the peak, credit and debt as well as energy reform.   Any information and/or training session requested is developed in consultation with the agency concerned.

FCRC is also invited to participate on a range of government, industry and community panels, which again serves as further forums to raise awareness of the issues confronting low-income households and in doing so seeks to influence broader systemic change.

FCRC also has a comprehensive collection of books, journals, papers and audio-visual materials pertaining to financial counselling, consumer credit and other issues dealing with the needs and rights of low-income consumers.  This information is primarily used as a resource for workers, however it is also available to students, teachers, and welfare organizations.

As part of Council’s commitment to community education, Council also serves as an information resource for its members and other organizations by continually updating information including changes to legislation, industry practices as well as current policy issues that impact on current and potential service clients.

For FCRC, our members are our lifeline.  Every day our members work tirelessly to deliver financial counselling programs to people experiencing multiple issues about their lives and often the lives of their families.

From these experiences, members connect, participate, inform and direct Council’s advocacy work via our Statewide Networks, Working Groups and Regional Networks. 

These forums provide the focus and impetus for discussion, debate and strategy development aimed at changing the conditions currently affecting low-income households.

The development and support of these groups is a key and on-going priority of Council and the FCRC website is one illustration of our commitment and support of our members.