Introduction: The Student Financial Advisers Network (SFAN) is a professional interest group within The Australia and New Zealand Student Services Association Inc. Each ANZSSA member by right of their membership can become affiliated with up to three professional interest areas. Inclusion in the SFAN Professional Interest Group occurs when SFAN is indicated on the completed ANZSSA membership application form as a preferred interest group.
Mission statement: SFAN has a very specific role in advising and assisting students with regard to their financial concerns. SFAN members work closely with Centrelink and the Department of Family & Community Services.
SFAN is of benefit to those who are employed as student financial advisors or those who are in involved with student financial support within the Australia or New Zealand post-secondary education sector.
Key activities of SFAN include: networking, professional development, information and resource sharing, discussion and very importantly operates as a peak body that makes comment and takes an active influencing and mediator role in relation to student financial support and government policy initiatives and procedures related to student financial support.
Responsibilities of the Convenor
The SFAN Professional Interest Group has a Convenor (or Convenors).
The responsibilities of the Convenor are to:
- represent the interests of the SFAN Professional Group on the ANZSSA Executive
- initiate professional development opportunities for financial advisors in post-secondary education
- promote the sharing of information and resources via the ANZSSA website and the ANZSSA Bulletin Board
- be a contact point for ANZSSA members who are providing financial support for students in post-secondary education
- encourage the submission for publication (in JANZSSA) of articles relevant to financial advising and student finances in post-secondary education
- initiate responses to government policy and coordinate related submissions as necessary
SFAN Executive Contacts
Chair, Roger Deutscher, University of Melbourne, Parkville. Ph: (03) 8344 4150 email: roger1@unimelb.edu.au
Spokesperson, Vince Callaghan, Deakin University, Warrnambool. Ph: (03) 5563 3256 email: vecc@deakin.edu.au
Beth Graham, Swinburne University Ph: (03) 9214 8953 email: bgraham@swin.edu.au
Bill Wright, Monash University Ph: (03) 9904 7019 email: Bill.Wright@adm.monash.edu.au
Sally Cullwick, University of Melbourne, Burnley. Ph: (03) 9250 6866 email: cullwick@unimelb.edu.au
Gloria Kennedy, Monash University Ph: (03) 9903 2500 email: Community.Services.Caulfield@adm.monash.edu.au
Professional Development Activities: A portion of the ANZSSA membership fee allows for some support for professional development for members who nominate SFAN as their professional interest group.
The SFAN membership has contributed strongly to all the ANZSSA conferences and contributes regularly to the Association Journal (JANZSSA).
Social Activities: SFAN social get-togethers are held in conjunction with professional development events, the AGM and the Biennial Conference. See the News and Events on the left hand menu for current information on social gatherings and professional development activities.
Meetings: SFAN meetings occur at the ANZSSA Biennial Conference, the NSW/ACT Biennial Conference held at Burradoo (in the year alternating with the ANZSSA Biennial Conference) and various regional meetings of financial advisors also occur.
Policy: Policy documents and submissions will be posted as available.