Helping consumers manage
their financial challenges

Jillian Fletcher Award

The Jillian Fletcher Award is being introduced by FCAQ and will serve dual purposes. The introduction of the award will honour and pay tribute to one of FCAQ’s most influential contributors, the late Jillian Fletcher. The award will provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate an individual who has made a significant achievement or contribution to the financial counselling sector.

Jillian Fletcher

Former FCAQ Chair and Jan Pentland Award Winner

Jillian Fletcher was an outstanding ambassador for financial counselling. Jillian consistently advocated in two key areas of service delivery in Queensland. Firstly, she was driven to improve professional standards in financial counselling, and secondly, she championed the need for sustainable funding for Queensland.

In 2008 Jillian worked tirelessly on a campaign targeting raising awareness with Queensland Government of the need for funding financial counselling in our state. She committed many hours of her personal time and effort to this campaign, producing reports, meeting with political leaders and connecting with other support services.

In November 2008 the Queensland Government allocated $3M, to Lifeline Community Care Queensland to fund financial counselling services for a period of 18 months to the end of June 2010. This was an outstanding achievement by Jillian and those who assisted her, but one thing is clear without her drive, creative thinking, and commitment, the funding would never have eventuated.

As a former Chair of Financial Counselling Association of Queensland (FCAQ), Jillian gained a deep understanding in progressing the awareness of financial counselling in Queensland and developing the resources and skillset within the sector. Jillian’s work was supported by Jan Pentland, who recognised her as someone who shared the same vision and passion for advancing financial counselling. In early 2009, Jan recommended Jillian for a role with Australian Financial Counselling and Credit Reform Association, now known as Financial Counselling Australia, representing Queensland.  This truly reflected Jan’s confidence in Jillian and signified the pair’s eagerness to work together on important issues.

The significance of Jillian Fletcher’s contribution in this period towards the advancement in financial counselling throughout Queensland has become fully understood with the course of time, where Queensland Governments of all political persuasion, have come to recognise the value and importance of financial counselling for all Queenslanders.

In 2024, the FCAQ Committee revealed that the Jillian Fletcher Award would be presented each year at our conference dinner, which is now on be known as The Jillian Fletcher Gala Dinner to honour her memory and incredible contribution to the sector.

The Jillian Fletcher Award provides an opportunity to recognise and celebrate an individual who has made a significant achievement or contribution to the financial counselling sector.

Criteria for the award below:

  • Exceptional achievement in financial counselling and/or consumer advocacy
  • Achievement in undertaking law reform, campaign work, community development and/or community education.
  • Innovation that has led to growth of the financial counselling sector in Queensland.

You can nominate an individual for the 2025 Jillian Fletcher Award by filling in the nomination form and returning to – secretary@fcaq.org.au

Jillian Fletcher Award Nomination Form 2025

All nomination forms and supporting documents will be reviewed by a panel including the current FCAQ chair.  From this process, three finalists will be selected and honoured at the conference dinner, with one finalist receiving the prestigious Jillian Fletcher Award.

Applications close: 28th April 2025