History
The Financial and Consumer Rights Council Incorporated (FCRC), is the peak body for community based organisations and individuals concerned with the rights of financially disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers in Victoria.
FCRC commenced in 1978 as the Financial Counsellor’s Association of Victoria (Inc.) and later changed its name to the Consumer Advocacy and Financial Counselling Association of Victoria (CAFCA).
Following a review of the Constitution in 1996 CAFCA changed its name to the Financial and Consumer Rights Council Inc.
Since its inception the FCRC has grown to include eight working groups, all of which are focused on different areas of consumer protection and financial counselling practice. The FCRC also convenes eight financial counselling networks, which concentrate on region specific casework across Victoria.
The systemic advocacy, policy and project work of the FCRC has contributed to an increase in the number of Financial Counsellors in Victoria. This has also resulted in the development of numerous publications to assist consumers and caseworkers to deal with financial hardship, and to advocate strongly for those who need it most.
1. PURPOSES
The purposes of the Financial and Consumer Rights Council Inc (Council) are:
1.1 to advocate for vulnerable Victorian consumers who are experiencing financial difficulty; and
1.2 to support the financial counselling sector through its casework, advocacy and law reform, to
adopt and maintain best practise
2. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Council are to ensure that:
2.1 financial counsellors in Victoria are supported to comply with best practice;
2.2 the financial counselling sector has secure, stable and sustainable funding;
2.3 financial counselling has a high profile;
2.4 vulnerable consumers have an effective voice; and
2.5 the Council is a strong, adaptive organisation that is valued by members, government and other
stakeholders.
The FCRC Constitution is available here.
