Please note that the program is evolving. There may be some changes.
Program | DAY 2, THURSDAY, MAY 16
10.15 am
Protecting benefit recipients post-Robodebt.
David Tennant, CEO of Family Care, talks about the unpicking of normal consumer rights for social security recipients. There have been some positive changes made to individual benefit categories lately but still no broad commitment to ensure social security status is no bar to normal legal rights and consumer protections.
10.40 am
The downs and ups - moving beyond ‘No’
In 2017, in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, First Nations people called for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution. In 2023, the referendum to make that change, by setting up an advisory body to the Parliament, was defeated. What next then for First Nations people? The structural issues and disadvantage that the Voice would have helped to address have not gone away. As a nation, we need to find another path. Hear from Lynda Edwards, a Wangkumara/Barkindji woman, about what the referendum loss has meant and what different paths might open instead. Lynda was the NSW 2023 Aboriginal Woman of the Year, NSW 2023 Premier’s Woman of the Year and is FCA’s Coordinator of Financial Capability.
11.00 am
Morning Tea
9.00 am
FCA SPOT talks
Black Swans
Always a favourite. Seven brave souls, seven minutes, a spotlight and a microphone.
The theme this year is Black Swans. Did you know that the phrase, “black swan”, used to be used in much the same ways as “pigs might fly”? What will our speakers make of it? Strap yourself in for an hour of engaging and though-provoking talks by seven brave delegates.
Convened by Jon Yeo.
11.30 am
Let's talk about tax debt
Given the ATO's crackdown of collections, it's not surprising that tax debt is increasingly present in case work. We bring together the founder of the Curtin Tax clinic and Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO) talk about what's happening.
Annette Morgan, Curtin Tax Clinic
Karen Payne, IGTO
11. 45 am
Giving clients a voice
FCA’s Director of Communications, Maura Angle, hosts a panel discussion about the powerful impact of clients telling their stories.
This session will cover the benefits of clients sharing their experiences with a wider audience including the media and political leaders.
Maura Angle, Financial Counselling Australia
Karen Percy, Karen Percy Ink
Mark Pearce, Consumer Action Law Centre
Tania Clarke, Consumer Action Law Centre
12.15 pm
Short and sharp
Hold onto your hats for these quickfire updates on things you need to know and more.
12.45 pm
Now and then
We look back at FCA conferences over the years to see the storms in teacups, the things we didn’t see coming and some (truly) questionable hairstyles.
1.00 pm
Lunch
2.00 pm
See the Concurrents page for more details.
3.30 pm
Afternoon Tea
4.00 pm
AI - the good, the bad and the ugly
AI is changing the world. Now. Some of the beneficiaries are scammers. But it is not all doom and gloom. Join Scott Pape and Alan Jenkins they discuss AI and financial counselling 2024. And beyond!
4.30 pm
A Final Word
Fiona Guthrie was the CEO of Financial Counselling Australia for nearly 15 years and the organisation’s first employee. She’s seen lots of change over that time and has the grey hair to prove it. In recent years, she wrote a weekly update for the sector that finished with ‘a final word’, where she riffed on lots of things. We thought it was only fair to give Fiona the final word one last time, so she can reflect on her experiences, learnings and the future for financial counselling.
5.00 pm close