Our History

The Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network Ltd (ICAN) is a not-for-profit company based in Cairns, Far North Queensland.

ICAN was incorporated on 1 October 2007 to:

  • Relieve poverty amongst Indigenous Australians by providing financial counselling to address consumer detriment,
  • Provide education to support informed consumer decision-making; and
  • Undertake advocacy to highlight and address consumer disadvantage.

Prior to its incorporation, ICAN was known as the Consumer Affairs Unit and operated within the Aboriginal Co-ordinating Council (ACC), the peak statutory body representing Queensland’s Deed of Grant in Trust Aboriginal communities.

Following the closure of the ACC on 30 September 2004, ICAN was established as a project within the Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council’s Cairns office, ensuring Indigenous consumers continued to have access to this important community service.

During its time with Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council, ICAN’s profile grew through a number of consumer advocacy campaigns that became national in scope.

As the organisation expanded its reach and impact, ICAN’s Project Steering Committee recommended that it become an independent organisation. This vision was realised on 1 October 2007, when ICAN was formally established as its own entity.

Our Purpose

ICAN is Australia’s only Indigenous consumer-focused organisation providing both financial counselling and consumer advocacy services to regional and remote communities across Queensland.

ICAN’s purpose, as set out in the company’s constitution, is to:

  • provide support, services and information relating to consumer affairs, financial management advice and education to Indigenous people.
  • conduct, facilitate and support (financially or otherwise) research regarding consumer affairs and financial management as they affect Indigenous people; and
  • provide advice and information to consumer affairs advisors, government and public bodies (including state and federal consumer regulatory bodies) on issues related to consumer affairs and financial management as they relate to Indigenous communities.