One of the early services in Australia was set up, primarily as a budgeting service for low-income consumers, by Brisbane Lifeline with outreach to Ipswich. The service was set up by Vic Richardson, a Director of the Bank of New South Wales, now known as Westpac. A cheque account was set up for each client with joint signatories of the client and the counsellor. The client paid in money each fortnight and the client and counsellor together paid the accounts at the end of each month.
The system was very cumbersome and time consuming and the service was completely re-vamped in the early 1980s after the death of Vic. Excellent money management workshops were conducted and Vic Richardson’s workshop notes were used throughout Australia for many years.
In 1984 and 1986 Betty Weule ran the first two financial counselling courses in Queensland at Castledean. They were run in 2-week blocks, Kangaroo Point TAFE hosted the 3rd course and 4th course, a financial counselling/gambling course was held in the late 1980s. This was the beginning of financial counselling as a recognised and essential service.
For nearly 30 years, until 2020, FCQ was run by volunteers. FCQ now employs 5 staff to manage its operations and is governed by a dedicated Management Committee who devote countless hours to ensure the purpose and objectives of FCQ are carried out effectively.
Volunteers from a number of agencies have contributed to the longevity and growth of FCQ. Presidents, now referred to as Chairs in our history include:
2008-2009 Jillian Fletcher
2009-2010 Kathleen Austin
2010-2012 Saskia Ten Dam
2012-2013 Mary McLean
2013-2013 Mark Phillips
2013-2014 Jodie Logovik
2014-2015 Mark Phillips
2015-2017 Jon O’Mally
2017-2019 Jan Perkins
2019-2020 Jon O’Mally
2020-2021 Jan Perkins
2021-2023 Vicki Penner
2023-present Rebecca Denny
Currently FCQ has 206 members, comprising 83 Accredited, 48 Associate, 17 Student, 58 Affiliate and 3 Life Members. The growth of the membership base is shown below:
2024 202 members
2023 191 members
2022 182 members
2021 151 members
2020 127 members
2019 96 members
2018 101 members
2017 88 members
2016 71 members
2015 56 members
2014 59 members
2013 81 members
2012 72 members
2011 74 members
2010 78 members
2009 69 members