Day 2 program
Friday May 8

Please note the program is still evolving and may be subject to some changes.

Morning session 9am-11am

Spot talks

Always a favourite. Seven brave souls, each with seven minutes, a spotlight and a microphone.

The theme this year is ‘Ready, Set, Go’. What will our speakers make of it? Strap yourself in for an hour of engaging and thought-provoking talks.

Convened by Jon Yeo.

First Nations financial inclusion: where are we now, and what needs to change?

What does financial inclusion really mean for First Nations peoples across remote, regional and urban communities? Why does it matter, and what is the current state of play?

We’ll hear from Wangkumarra and Barkindji man Sean Gordon AM, Founder and Executive Director of the Yadha Muru Foundation and Director of Gidgee Group Consulting and Partnerships.

Sean will explore the key questions shaping First Nations financial inclusion: where are the biggest gaps? What needs to grow or change within our financial systems? And how can culturally informed approaches create better access, better outcomes, and stronger economic futures for First Nations peoples?

Big ideas: headlines from 2036

Step into the future. In this fast-paced and creative session, three thought leaders share bold ideas as if they have already succeeded. Set in 2036, each speaker presents a future headline that captures real change for people experiencing financial hardship and the journey that made it possible. From mortgage trackers to a national approach to financial literacy and embedding financial counselling in early childhood and maternal services, this session will challenge, inspire and spark new thinking.

Morning tea 11-11:30am

Late morning session 11:30am-1pm

On incarceration

This session explores the realities of being in prison and why financial stability both during and after incarceration is critical to breaking cycles of disadvantage.

Tracey McCurdy, Convener of the Prisons Financial Counselling Network, Eleni Psillakis, Program Manager of Success Works, and Ciara Sterling, CEO of Thriving Communities Australia, bring together frontline insight, lived experience and a systems perspective to discuss debt, trauma, stigma and the barriers people face inside and on release.

Through the eyes of: the Tax Ombudsman

In the second of two 'through the eyes of sessions', Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman Ruth Owen explores what she is seeing across the tax system.

You'll hear about emerging risks, barriers to fair treatment and where people experiencing financial hardship fall through the cracks, and what this means for financial counsellors and capability workers and the people they support.

Industry funding: today’s momentum, tomorrow’s impact

Elissa Freeman, CEO of the Financial Counselling Industry Fund, will reflect on the strong momentum created through the recent Innovation and Expansion Rounds, and what these grant programs are delivering on the ground.

With evaluation of the industry-funding model now underway and further grant rounds in sight, this session will explore how industry funding is delivering for financially vulnerable people. This is a critical moment for the industry funding model, and an opportunity for you to be part of what comes next.

Relaxation activity

It has been a big couple of days so far! Take a brief moment to relax before the final afternoon of the conference. Breathing and meditation expert, Brad Thompson, will have us all feeling calm, cool and collected in no time.

Lunch

Enjoy a one-hour break for a tasty lunch, 1pm to 2pm.

Concurrents

Conference attendees will split off into their concurrent group sessions, from 2pm until 3:30pm. More information about the concurrents is available here.

Afternoon tea

A half-an-hour break for afternoon tea, 3:30pm until 4pm.

Afternoon session 4-5pm

Keynote address

Details TBC.

Mystery session