The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) Deputy Chief Ombudsman Dr June Smith will present an AFCA update at the Financial Counsellors’ Association of NSW (FCAN) Conference on 15 September 2022.

The annual state conference brings together industry, consumer groups and financial counsellors across NSW to connect and discuss key issues to support individuals and communities in need.

Dr Smith will share an update on AFCA’s activities in the last 12 months, including AFCA’s work responding to the Independent Review. She will be joined by representatives from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) and the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWONSW).

“Financial counsellors play a very important role in Australia. Among other things, they walk alongside people throughout the AFCA complaint process free of charge,” Dr Smith said.

“Financial counsellors in NSW referred 421 people to AFCA in the last financial year, and they also represented another 61 people who had an AFCA complaint. That’s 482 people who, without the help of a financial counsellor in NSW, may not have been aware of their right to escalate their financial complaint to AFCA,” she said.

AFCA Investments and Advice Case Manager Margaret Ekins will also be presenting a workshop on cryptocurrency on 15 September 2022. Ms Ekins will be giving an introduction to cryptocurrencies, speaking on the importance of making researched decisions.

Published: 9 September 2022

Media enquiries media@afca.org.au

About AFCA

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) is a non-government ombudsman service providing free, fair and independent help with financial disputes. It is a one-stop-shop for consumers and small businesses who have a dispute with their financial firm, over things such as banking, credit, insurance, advice, investments or superannuation. Where an agreement cannot be reached between parties, AFCA can issue decisions that are binding on financial firms.