Training Coursers

To become a financial counsellor in NSW, a person is required to complete the accredited training course under the auspices of the Financial Counsellors’ Association of NSW Inc. (FCAN).

FCAN has been funded by the NSW Office of Fair Trading to provide three (3) training courses per year until the end of June 2012. Each year two of those courses must be in regional areas and one in Sydney.

The courses are conducted in one week blocks, with periods of three to four weeks between each session of training. This takes approximately four (4) months. Alternately, courses are conducted on a one day per week basis and runs for approximately six (6) months.

Trainers for all courses must be accredited NSW financial counsellors with Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Trainers are provided by FCAN.

Anyone wanting to work as a financial counsellor in NSW must be employed by, be a volunteer for or be sponsored by a NSW financial counselling service.

Financial counsellors cannot charge a fee for service or accept funding by a credit provider. They must also be a member of, or be eligible for membership of their State Financial Counselling Association. In NSW this is FCAN. This is a requirement under the “ASIC Relief from Licensing Provisions” provided to all financial counsellors in Australia.

As well as completing our financial counselling course, NSW financial counsellors must also complete a basic counselling course. This course is offered by FCAN, as is recommended to be completed before undertaking the financial counselling course. Other basic counselling course accepted by FCAN include; Lifeline or Salvo Careline Telephone Counselling Courses, or the Centre for Community Welfare Training (CCWT) Counselling 1 course.

The current Diploma for Community Services (Financial Counselling) is not adequate to become a financial counsellor in NSW. This is because the course does not contain enough legal training nor does it contain any practical element.