Financial Wellbeing & Capability (FWC) Activity: Discussion Paper

The Department of Social Services has released a proposal for redesigning the FWC.

All FWC providers, peak bodies and other interested stakeholders are invited to make a written submission on any or all of the questions raised in this discussion paper.

FCRC has begun drafting a response to the paper, and we encourage agencies to read the proposed changes and submit their responses as well.

Submissions are to be uploaded here by 31 March, 2017.

Read the discussion paper here

• FCRC joins the
  Economic Abuse Reference Group
• Jan Pentland Prize & Scholarships
• BSWAT: FCA needs your help
• Interview with FC: Colin Harte
• SSRV Fact Sheets
• Veda is now Equifax
• Sample letter generator
• Family violence in our community:
  What can I do?
• News in brief
• Upcoming E-Learning

FCRC joins the Economic Abuse Reference Group

The Economic Abuse Reference Group is an informal group of community organisations which influences government and industry responses to the financial impact of family violence.

The group has developed a Good Practice Guide for industry and government agencies to assist in the development of policies that address the financial impact of family violence on their customers or the public.

BSWAT: FCA needs your help!

To date less than half of funded agencies have registered to participate in the BSWAT Payment Scheme and there are significant service gaps across the state.

FCA are encouraging all eligible non-participating agencies to consider participating to help a very vulnerable group. A registration smart form is available here.

If your agency cannot participate, or are not yet registered, please see the list of DSS registered agencies and work out which agencies are participating in your area so that you can direct anyone making enquiries to a participating agency or do a warm referral.

More details and contact information can be found here.

SSRV Fact Sheets

Social Security Rights Victoria (SSRV) has recently published a series of Fact Sheets including:

• What is Compensation Preclusion?
• What is the Disability Support Pension?
• Income Protection Insurance Payments
• Total Permanent Disability Insurance
• Newstart Allowance
• Jobactive – Know your rights.

The Fact Sheets are targeted at social security recipients and those who advise them. They are available on the SSRV website here.

SSRV gratefully acknowledges funding received from the Victoria Law Foundation to produce the Fact Sheets. We would welcome feedback about the relevance, usefulness of content, accessibility and ease of use of these resources – info@ssrv.org.au

Family violence in our community:

What can I do?

9:30AM - Thursday, 27 April
Swan Hill Town Hall
REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN

Come along to this free community forum, facilitated by Wei Leng Kwok, to learn about strategies and ideas to reduce the prevalence of family violence incidents across the Mallee.

Guest speakers include Nova Peris, Shaan Ross-Smith, Andrew Broad, Alan Thorpe, Narelle Kolpin and Marnie Jewell.

Register or view further event details here.

Upcoming E-Learning

Centrelink online debt assessment system

Availability: 11AM on 4 April 2017
Time commitment: 30 mins
CPD Points: 2
Key Area: Technical

Register online

Child Support Essentials for Community Workers

Availability: 12:30PM on 6 April 2017
Time commitment: 30 mins
CPD Points: 2
Key Area: Technical

Telephone professional supervision opportunities
A list of upcoming telephone professional supervision opportunities is available for members via the FCRC website. 
View the resources

Jan Pentland Prize & Scholarships

If someone you know has contributed significantly to the financial counselling sector in the past year, please fill out the online form and nominate that person for the Jan Pentland Prize.

Read more about the prize here.

If you need financial assistance to study to become a financial counsellor, you can apply for a Jan Pentland Foundation Scholarship.

To apply for a Jan Pentland Scholarship please fill out the online form.

Read more about the scholarships here.

Support the Jan Pentland Foundation to provide more financial counselling scholarships.

Interview with Colin Harte

In each issue of the Devil's Advocate, FCRC shines the spotlight on one of our members.

This month we interview financial counsellor and FCRC board member, Colin Harte (Salvation Army, Melbourne), as he recounts his unexpected entry into the financial counselling sector, and the challenges that lie ahead for the sector.

Read the interview here.

Veda is now Equifax

Credit information company, Veda, has changed its name to Equifax, following its acquisition by the American-owned company in early 2016.

Sample letter generator

The Financial Rights Legal Centre website offers a variety of free letter templates to provide assistance when writing to creditors, insurers and Ombudsmen.

View the resources here

News in brief

ASIC releases findings of CommInsure investigation

ASIC found no evidence to support allegations that CommInsure applied undue pressure on doctors to change or alter their medical opinions.

CommInsure has now voluntarily agreed to apply its updated heart attack definition back to October 2012.
Continue reading...

AGL announces 'A Fairer Way' package for vulnerable customers

Over the next two months, AGL will be rolling out its ‘A Fairer Way’ package which includes a suite of changes to its energy products, aimed at delivering fairer outcomes for all consumers and to encourage engagement with the competitive retail energy market.
Continue reading...

Got something to share?

FCRC invites submissions from members and other organisations within the sector. Contact us to discuss sharing your story. Submission deadline is the 20th of each month.