Who are we?

FCAWA supports all financial counsellors and financial capability workers in WA ensuring best practice by providing access to professional development, information, resources, and relevant casework support.

We are experts in financial hardship, financial literacy, and financial counselling.

We focus on identifying emerging issues, recording current trends and responding to social and systemic issues in the social services sector.

What do we do?

FCAWA supports all financial counsellors and financial capability workers in WA ensuring best practice by providing access to professional development, information, resources, and relevant casework support.

We also:

liaise on behalf of financial counsellors and their clients with state and federal governments, organisations, businesses and those whose policies affect consumers
act on policy advice and write submissions for better outcomes for vulnerable consumers
advocate for changes to legislation to better support vulnerable consumers
provide training to a range of organisations in metropolitan and regional WA.

What services do we offer?

We offer consultation and workshops to a whole range of organisations in the private, public and not for profit sectors.

Hardship policy consultation.

Family & domestic violence policy consultation.

Financial hardship training.

A financial hardship impacted by family violence workshop.

Customised consultation, workshops and webinars.

Our Vision

Our Purpose

Our Values

INTEGRITY

We are honest and consistent in our work, developing
trusting relationships with strong ethical principles.

LEADERSHIP

We continuously strive for excellence in our work.
Leading the sector with courage and humility, advocating for social justice where everyone’s human rights are respected and protected.

SUPPORT

We respect the dignity and value of each of our members. Encouraging collaboration and connection, supporting our members, the sector, and each other

INNOVATION

We strive to meet the needs of our members in an ever-changing world, turning creative ideas into effective solutions, and passionate about learning new things.

Our History

The Financial Counsellors’ Association of WA (FCAWA) was incorporated in 1985.

As the peak body to support financial counsellors and their clients through education, information, resources, and relevant legal support, FCAWA’s primary objectives are to establish, monitor and improve standards for financial counsellors in Western Australia. This is where we shine!

All financial counsellors are required to be members of the state association in order to practise under the National Credit Code (2009) and Corporation’s Act (2001).

Our Board

Balbeer Sidhu

Chairperson

Balbeer is the Practice Lead for Financial Wellbeing Services in Uniting WA, overseeing the financial counselling, emergency relief and financial wellbeing workshop programs. He also jointly oversees the Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) program in WA, a national program across Australia delivered by the UnitingCare network. Balbeer has been with Uniting WA for more than 12 years. His previous experience includes working in the Financial Institutions Department of the largest private bank in Malaysia for 18 years. Balbeer joined the FCAWA Board as a Treasurer in 2018.

Hadassah Morrisey

Secretary

Hadassah is the Service Centre Manager at Anglicare WA. She oversees the Hardship Utility Grant Scheme, the HSC Financial Counselling program and the Emergency Relief & Food Access Service. Hadassah has been a Financial Counsellor since 2011, working for Youth Legal Service (WA), Lifeline and Anglicare WA. Hadassah joined the FCAWA Board as Secretary in 2017.

Mandy Dehnel

Treasurer

Dean Bavich

Board Member

Tina Bennett

Board Member

Tina is the senior financial counsellor at The Spiers Centre in Heathridge. She has worked at The Spiers Centre since 2008, the past 10 years as a financial counsellor. Previous experience includes community service administration, banking roles and volunteering as a member of the SES Mounted Section. Tina joined the board of FCAWA in 2018.

Melanie Every

Executive Officer

Suzanne Long

Board Member

Roberta Grealish

Independent Board Member

Roberta is the Principal Solicitor at Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc. (CCLSWA), a specialist community legal centre based in Perth. She studied at the University of Sydney, the National University of Ireland, Galway, and the University of Western Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Law degree. She has also completed professional practice courses at the Law Society of Ireland and the College of Law Western Australia. Roberta worked in private practice in Ireland, specialising in property and banking before relocating to Perth. Following admission to practice in WA, she worked for a commercial law firm before jumping at the opportunity to join CCLSWA and “sit on the other side of the table” to voice the risks of unaffordable lending from the consumer perspective.