“Sparking Change” was the theme for the 2025 Financial Counsellors Vic Conference earlier this month where Mansfield’s Michele Padbury was MC for the event which attracted more than 350 delegates and several highly regarded speakers all keen to be part of positive outcomes in people’s lives.

The conference hosted in Lorne at the Mantra Hotel ran from 8 to 10 October.

According to organisers this year’s focus was a “powerful call to action that highlights the transformative role of financial counsellors, the broader community sector, and all sector stakeholders, committed to supporting individuals facing financial hardship”.

“As financial pressures continue to increase and the complexity of financial hardship evolves, the role of financial counsellors has never been more crucial — and it is more important than ever to support their work,”

Ms Padbury who has a wealth of experience in the sector as a financial counsellor in Mansfield for 21 years, working in rural local government and community organisations is only too aware of such pressures and the impacts on families and individuals.

She is currently a senior financial counsellor with VincentCare Victoria at its Shepparton office based in the Hume Community Hub.

This involves leading a client-focused team that emphasises the importance of clients making their own decisions regarding financial difficulties.

Ms Padbury uses a strength-based approach in her work with vulnerable clients and is actively involved in regional and state-based networks, where she supports and fosters systemic advocacy.

The program was full of inspiring, challenging and engaging sessions with some fantastic speakers she said.

Speakers included government representatives such as Nick Staikos, Minister for Consumer Affairs and for Local Government, and Dr Daniel Mulino federal assistant treasurer and Minister for Financial Services.

Other speakers included Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope CEO Financial Counselling Victoria, Zoe Daniel journalist, former federal MP and Gerard Brody, commissioner and chairperson of the Essential Services Commission

There were various breakout sessions for in-depth discussions, networking opportunities and cross-sector collaboration across the three days.

“Accompanied by professional development opportunities, access to the ombudsmen and key personnel from the banking and utilities sectors, plus robust networking, delegates went away armed with new knowledge and skills,” she said.

One of the major highlights of the conference was the launch of the 10-year Victorian workforce strategy in response to concerns raised by the sector.

According to its executive summary, “In the face of escalating financial stress across Victoria, the need for accessible, high-quality financial counselling has never been greater.

However, FCVic hears regularly from financial counsellors and their agencies about demand pressures that threaten the sector’s sustainability.

Increasingly complex casework, unmanageable wait times, and recruitment challenges all place a significant burden on the Victorian financial counselling workforce”.

“Most delegates were very keen for the launch of FCVic's latest workforce strategy and associated reports, and they were not disappointed,” Ms Padbury said.

The strategy outlines the groundwork for a more sustainable, diverse and agile sector that can continue to safeguard the financial wellbeing of Victorians now and into the future.

For anyone needing general financial counselling visit, https://ndh.org.au/ or call the National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007.

For local financial counselling contact the Mansfield Shire on (03) 57758555.