Inspector-General in Bankruptcy, Hamish McCormick from the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) visited ICAN earlier this month to speak with the Cairns regions Financial Counselling and Capability community. Representatives from Uniting Care, Shelter Housing Action Cairns and ICAN heard first hand how AFSA is managing the application of bankruptcy and personal property security laws through regulation and enforcement. Mr McCormick discussed emerging and current issues relating to bankruptcy and debt agreements; and law reform.
ICAN Financial Counsellor, Unaisi Buli said, “I was interested in hearing about the financial information provided to people under financial/insolvency stress and how AFSA both promotes and values its relationship with the Financial Counselling sector.” I think the group also really appreciated the opportunity to provide feedback and ideas about how AFSA can improve its personal insolvency system operations.”
President of the Financial Counsellors Association of Queensland (FCAQ) and ICAN Operations Manager, Jon O’Mally coordinated the lunch workshops in Townsville and Cairns. “It was great to meet Mr McCormack, put a face to the name and gain a direct insight into the insolvency space”, said Mr O’Mally. “We intend on having more professional development and peer sessions in North Queensland throughout the Year.”
Uniting Care Financial Resilience and Wellbeing Service Leader, Mai Moua supports the opportunity to have community of practice meetings concept saying, “It was great to see everyone and all the different agencies come together.”