Program | DAY 1, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28
TBA| Please note that the program is evolving. There may be some changes.
Morning session - 9am to 11am
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Welcome to Country
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The Kaurna people are the traditional owners of the Adelaide Plains, which is where the Adelaide Convention Centre is today. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
Frank Wangutya Wanganeen, a Kaurna/ Nurungga Man, will deliver the Welcome to Country.
Welcome to conference
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We’re delighted to welcome back Daniel Ziffer as our MC for the FCA conference. Daniel is a journalist at ABC and author of A Wunch of Bankers: A Year in the Hayne Royal Commission.
Daniel and Kylie Holford (FCA’s Chair) will welcome you to the conference. 
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Politician's address
​Watch this space
Keynote: The fourth point
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In Australia, we tend to track the health of the economy by three metrics: employment, inflation, and growth. We have made good progress in tracking broader measures of wellbeing, but we still lack official poverty measures.
What if we had a fourth point on the compass that guides our national conversations and decisions about the economy and our society – one that helps us to eliminate poverty?
Travers McLeod, the Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence, explains how we can reframe Australia’s economic compass and make poverty reduction a greater national priority.
Voices from the frontline
There are many pathways into financial counselling and many different ways of working
In this session, we get the unique perspective of some financial counsellors and financial capability workers - what makes them tick?
FCA update
​​​​​​​​​​A reflection on what we’ve done over the past 12-months and where we are heading for the coming year. Delivered by FCA’s Co-CEOs , Dom Meyrick and Peter Gartlan.
Morning session - 11am to 1pm
11.00 am
Morning tea​
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Family violence and safe organisations
​Far too many women still experience the devastating realities of domestic and family violence. This is a crisis. Often, organisations are the first point of contact for people seeking help, making them a vital part of the solution.
Catherine Fitzpatrick and Ciara Sterling share the insights around key issues facing people impacted by family violence across essential services, the opportunities to address these and the crucial role all organisations can play in ending gender based violence.
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Catherine is the Founder and Director Flequity Ventures and Chair of One Generation Leader Circle.
Ciara is CEO Thriving Communities Australia.
Bankruptcy beyond the law: from Dickens to The Dry
Dr Lucie O'Brien, Melbourne University Law School.
The stories we tell about bankruptcy are always evolving – in the news, in novels, poetry and film. These include stories of crisis and failure, but also compassion and even humour. With possible reforms to bankruptcy law on the horizon, this presentation looks at changing perceptions of bankruptcy in Australian culture over the last 200 years.
Money and mental health
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Beyond Blue CEO, Georgie Harman, joins a panel discussion exploring the intimate relationship between financial stress and poor mental health.
What goes up must come down?
Welcome to the part of the conference where we take a complex topic and try to make sense of it (usually with a touch of good humour).
Last year, it was called The secret life of the humble complaint (remember the bees) and was all about making complaints. This year we will try to explain the various perspectives on interest rates and inflation.
1.00 pm
Lunch
Afternoon session - 2pm - 5pm
2.00 pm
Concurrents
3.30 pm
Afternoon tea
4.00 pm
In conversation with Bill Shorten
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With a long history in financial and social policy, Bill Shorten brings valuable insights to the FCA 2025 Conference. As a former Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, he has been involved in financial regulation reform, workplace protections, and the development of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Join us for an engaging discussion on the intersections of financial counselling, social services, and policy reform.
On connection and loneliness
According to a recent national report, almost one in three Australians feel lonely and one in six are experiencing severe loneliness. Wayside Chapel's, Jon Owen, is on a mission to combat loneliness. He believes that together, we can challenge the loneliness epidemic and foster a society where every individual feels valued and connected.
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Come together with old friends and new to celebrate the sector and honour Jan Pentland, a financial counsellor who had an enormous impact on the profession.
The winners of the Jan Pentland prize and scholarships will be announced.
Dinner venue: Adelaide Convention Centre
Theme: A touch of purple (Jan’s favourite colour).