In 2026 the FCQ Annual State Conference will offer FCQ members additional facilitated interactive training opportunities that result in certified CPD outcomes.
Tuesday 24 March 2026 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
The InterContinental Hotel
190 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane
Everyday Legal Solutions – Navigating legal systems to improve housing stability, financial well-being and prevent homelessness
Presented by LawRight
Housing instability and homelessness in Queensland are often the result of compounding legal issues intersecting with financial hardship, poor health, housing insecurity and experiences of violence. These challenges are rarely legal in isolation and require an integrated, person-centered approach. Tailored for financial counsellors, this professional development session will explore how early financial counselling and legal intervention — delivered through a trauma-informed and best-practice lens — can improve financial and housing outcomes to disrupt the cycle of homelessness. Participants will develop an improved understanding of the legal frameworks that shape common, everyday legal issues and the practical solutions available to our clients. LawRight will share over 20 years’ experience working collaboratively with financial counsellors to support Queenslanders facing homeless to navigate these complex systems.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify and support clients with common legal issues that contribute to housing insecurity and homelessness, including tenancy, credit and consumer debt, lemon cars, domestic and family violence and barriers to accessing health and social supports.
- Describe shared principles of trauma-informed legal practice and their application in working with clients experiencing housing distress and complex life circumstances.
- Recognise the value of early and integrated legal support and collaborative cross-sector support to effectively resolve clients interconnected issues, including through warm referrals, secondary consultations and joint service delivery.
CPD CATEGORY: TECHNICAL
Trauma and Money – The Impact on Financial Capability
Presented by Jane Monica Jones
Discover the ways trauma disrupts financial functioning and decision-making, drawing on evidence from psychology, behavioural finance, and trauma studies. Key themes include the trajectory from Crisis to Stability as a framework for recovery, the role of Regulated Power in fostering adaptive assertiveness and agency, and the importance of prioritising Capacity over Compliance to ensure sustainable financial capability.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understanding how trauma impacts financial behaviours, decision-making and long-term financial capability.
- Differentiate between crisis-driven financial responses and the stabilisation processes that enable recovery and improved financial decision-making.
- Insight into trauma-informed frameworks, approaches and applications that strengthen both professional practice and client outcomes moving from short-term crisis management toward sustainable financial wellbeing.
CPD CATEGORY: TECHNICAL / SKILLS
Collaborative Responses to DFV
Presented by Women’s Legal Service (WLSQ)
Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a complex issue that impacts many aspects of a victim-survivor’s life — their safety, legal rights, financial stability, housing, health, and emotional wellbeing. Effective responses require more than crisis support; it is vital to provide coordinated, multidisciplinary approaches that centre the person’s lived experience. The team from WLSQ will lead a holistic training session presented by a social worker, lawyer and financial counsellor who will share best-practice knowledge and talk through skills and support strategies.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understanding DFV, its wide-ranging impacts and how financial counsellors/capability workers can respond to disclosures using the Common Risk and Safety Framework (CRASF)
- The importance of collaborative approaches with community legal services to address legal issues that arise in DFV including divorce and separation, property settlements, child arrangements and criminal law.
- Responding to financial abuse and advocacy support in common credit and consumer debts, financial hardship and exit planning, financial assistance available and victims assist applications.
CPD CATEGORY: TECHNICAL / SKILLS
Problem Gambling Skillset
Presented by TBD
Exclusive: This session is limited to FCQ scholarship recipients only.
This exclusive training day will empower financial counsellors with the specialised skills needed to support clients impacted by problem gambling. Through inclusive, trauma-informed approaches and innovative casework strategies, participants will explore how to respond effectively to one of the most complex areas of financial distress.
Learning Outcomes:
- Assess the needs of clients with problem gambling issues and provide counselling
- Working with diverse clients, including First Nation and CALD communities
- Advanced practical skills, ethical considerations, technical implications and self-care
CPD CATEGORY: TECHNICAL / SKILLS / ETHICAL
Exclusive: FCQ Members 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Hosted by: The Great Race
This high-energy, professionally hosted activity is designed to foster collaboration, laughter and build team spirit among the FCQ membership base. This fun afternoon session will take you on a journey through memorable and hilarious challenges from some of TV’s favourite shows including Survivor, Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, Sale of the Century, The Price is Right, Minute to Win It, Would I Lie To You and Spicks and Specks!
This is a team building activity where entertainment is the major prize. Some rounds will require your entire team to work together and combine their skills in problem solving and strategy challenges while others will require teams to put their best player forward. With such a huge variety of challenges it’s impossible for anyone to feel like the weakest link.