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

Gary Newcombe

Chairperson

Gary retired in December 2022 from the State Public Service after 41 years in the Commonwealth and State Public Services and the WA Parliament. At the time of his retirement, Gary was the WA Commissioner for Consumer Protection. Gary was a director at Consumer Protection for 21 years, with responsibility for consumer protection policy and community education, amongst other things. Gary’s other experience includes working as: a senior lawyer within the Commonwealth and State Governments; a ministerial adviser; and a corporate investigator. Gary joined the board of FCAWA in 2024.

Mandy Dehnel

Vice Chairperson

Mandy has over 24 years of experience in community services, including roles as a Financial Counsellor, Caseworker, housing worker, and Mental Health Support worker, she is a passionate advocate for financial confidence and stability. Most recently, since 2020 within The Salvation Army Moneycare, Mandy has been leading a team of financial counsellors focused on helping people strengthen their financial foundations and successfully navigate their way through financial hardship. She also volunteers with the Salvation Army’s emergency services team when needed during natural disasters. Mandy is an advocate of her favourite fashion brand “Salvos” enjoying her love of op shop fashions (especially anything in the colour red).

Mandy joined the board as Treasurer in 2021 and as of 2024 remains on the board as Vice Chairperson.

Dean Bavich

Secretary

Dean has agribusiness, commerce and financial counselling qualifications with a strong working background within the rural bank finance and small business sector. He is currently a Small Business and Rural Financial Counsellor with Rural West. Dean has a strong sense for rural communities and enjoys being actively involved in the community. He is a past elected member of the Shire of Manjimup as Deputy Shire President and has held executive positions with Merredin Community Resource Centre and Merredin Community Men’s Shed. Dean is also a past president and current active member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the south-west region. In his working role with Rural West, he is highly passionate about effecting change and making a difference to the lives of farmers and small business owners. Dean joined the Board in 2022 and was appointed secretary in 2023.

Lanie Byk

Treasurer

Lanie is a Leadership Coach (ACC) and Leadership Development Facilitator with experience in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. Her career has a strong front-line retail and commercial banking foundation, with head office roles in executive leadership development and human resource strategic projects (cultural change, strategy development, planning and implementation). Since 2007, Lanie has been running her own consulting practice, working with an array of corporate and not-for-profit clients.

Lanie is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. These credentials have ongoing professional development requirements and ethical expectations similar to those of Financial Counsellors.

Lanie is passionate about her work on diversity and inclusion. She has had the pleasure of working with the WA Aboriginal Leadership Institute since 2015 as a Facilitator and in a voluntary capacity leading their pro-bono coaching program.

Suzanne Long

Board Member

Suzanne is the Manager of Financial Counselling at St Vincent de Paul Society WA. She leads a team of Financial Counsellors, including the National Debt Helpline WA, the Rent Relief Program and face-to-face services across the Perth metro, Rockingham, Mandurah and Bunbury areas.

Suzanne has been working as a financial counsellor for the last 14 years and is well known for her caring approach to supporting clients experiencing financial hardship. Suzanne started her career in Australia in 2008 working for the Salvation Army across their community programs. Suzanne’s work is her passion, using her years of experience as a Financial Counsellor to make a difference to her clients, her team and the development of the sector. Suzanne joined the board of FCAWA in 2019.

Tevita Naroba

Board Member

Tevy is an Accredited Financial Counsellor who has 35 years of service-related experience across the sectors of banking, finance, insurance, small business, telecommunications, financial counselling, community services and mining. Tevy has worked for 8 years with Aboriginal communities across the East Kimberley, and more closely in the last two years with the Traditional Owner groups of the Argyle Diamond Mine, Rio Tinto in his role as Advisor – Communities and Social Performance. Tevy is passionate about advocating for the strong financial wellbeing of Indigenous people living remotely and regionally; he believes that strong financial wellbeing is key to mob’s self-determination and economic empowerment. In 2023 he completed a Master of Philosophy on Indigenous Research and Development at Curtin University, in which he explored how the financial wellbeing of East Kimberley Indigenous people can be enhanced. He is a Board member with Kimberley Small Business Support (KSBS), Waringarri Aboriginal Radio station 6WR (Kununurra) and Pacific Island Council Western Australia (PICWA). Tevy joined the board of FCAWA in 2023.

Veronica Johnson

Board Member

Veronica Johnson is a Financial Counsellor with 10 years of experience, having dedicated her life to building capacity in many different areas for the benefit of First Nations people, across Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Veronica has been recognised by Consumer Protection WA and won the Rona Okely award in 2024 for her achievements particularly the advocacy on remote communities, the Ian Macdonald Award FCAWA in 2022 and Developing Practice in 2021 FCAWA.

Veronica has travelled to many communities across the NT and WA, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience particularly for remote communities across two states, this experience together with her work across WA will be a valuable contribution, adding value and a new perspective to the challenges faced on remote and regional areas, representing the regional and remote communities as part of the FCAWA board membership.

Colin Harte

Board Member

Colin Harte is Anglicare WA’s Practice Consultant for Financial Including, providing best practice support and strategic thinking for all their Financial Inclusion products. He has over a decade’s experience as a Financial Counsellor at all levels, including as an Agency Manager, delivering face-to-face services as well as providing telephone Financial Counselling. He has previously worked for the ATO, ANZ bank, Centrelink and other state government departments. He has been on two boards previously, including being Chair of FCVic. He is currently studying a Master of Social Work and Psychotherapy. Colin believes that you can’t have Social Justice without Economic Justice.