About Us
ABOUT FCAN
The Financial Counsellor's Association of NSW
The Financial Counsellors’ Association of NSW Inc (FCAN) is the peak membership body that represents and supports Financial Counsellors in NSW.
FCAN was established in 1980 as the Institute of Financial Counselling. Since that time, FCAN has been providing services and assistance to members, including accreditation, training programs, professional development and peer supervision.
FCAN represents the financial counselling sector to advocate for suitable regulation and products to protect the financially vulnerable and to prevent people and families from experiencing financial hardship.
FCAN MISSION
Support, sustain & enhance the profession
We are a charity that supports NSW financial counsellors and financial counselling agencies.
Purposes
The purposes of FCAN are:
Not-For-Profit
to be a not-for-profit, charitable and benevolent institution.
Support for Members and Agencies
to provide support to financial counsellor Members and financial counselling agencies, particularly those which are public benevolent institutions and registered charities, through professional development, training and advocating for reform and funding for members.
Objectives
The objectives of FCAN are to ensure that:
Financial counsellors in NSW are supported to comply with best practice
The financial counselling sector has secure, stable and sustainable funding
Financial counselling has a high profile
Vulnerable consumers have an effective voice
Non-Profit Clause
The assets and income of the association shall be applied solely in furtherance of its purposes and objects and no portion shall be distributed directly or indirectly to the members of the association except as bona fide compensation for services rendered, goods sold or expenses properly incurred by or on behalf of the association.
MEMBERS
About Our Members
NSW Financial Counsellors
All financial counsellors in NSW are members of the Financial Counsellors' Association NSW Inc.
Best Practice
Entry level qualification requirements, ongoing professional development, supervision and Code of Ethical Conduct ensure our members provide best practice.
300+ Members
We have over 300 members employed by community organisations and charities throughout NSW.
Free, independent and confidential
Our members provide advice and support to people in financial difficulty. Financial counselling agencies are not permitted to charge any fees for services. Instead they are funded by government to provide this free service.
ASIC Licencing Exemption: Don't Charge Fees or Commissions
Financial counselling services are free and do not charge fees to clients or receive commissions for the services offered. Financial counsellors are exempt from holding a credit licence. For more information about the ASIC exemption view the ASIC information sheet (Info 112) on the ASIC website.
Restriction on the use of the term Financial Counsellor
The National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Cth) Section 160C imposes restrictions on the use of the terms: financial counsellor; financial counselling; and any other term of similar meaning.
