General Members
Being business entities that provide micro-lending services, being sole traders, franchisees, agents or the like and business entities that facilitate the provision of financial services, being a franchisor, financial product wholesaler or the like, who shall have the right to vote on Federation matters by way of each entity's nominated representative participating in Federation ballots.
Your membership investment buys the following -
1. State wide and national coordinated representation:
1 .To the Minister
2 .To the Office of Fair Trading
3. To the Government as a whole
4. To the Opposition in the Parliament, when required
5. To the Joint Ministerial Council of Consumer Affairs
6. To the Standing Committee of senior officials advising the Ministerial Council
7. To the Uniform Consumer Credit Code Management Committee that advises both the Standing Committee and the Ministerial Council
8. To project officers employed by the Management Committee
2. The development of substantial written submissions:
1. To government in general
2. To the Minister
3. To the Office of Fair Trading
4. To the Management Committee's project officer
5. To relevant publications
3. Industry research:
1. For inclusion in submissions
2. For use by National Financial Services Federation members to assist them in developing their business strategies
3. For presentation to academics and other research persons investigating the industry
4. Communication to members:
1. Industry alerts, when matters are urgent
2. Industry updates - keeping you totally informed of proposals for industry reviews, regulatory 3. changes, suppliers with interesting product and the like
3. Compliance issues and opportunities
4. Display and classified advertising opportunities
5. Access to a General Members only area on this website
5. Implementation of communication strategies to advance the industry's position.
6. Invitations to Federation conferences, seminars and think tanks - your opportunity to get critical advice and information and a chance to network with the industry as a whole.
7. A continuing campaign to enhance the public image of the industry:
1. Significant to maintain business and to expand
2. Critical if you are ever anticipating a public float
3. Very useful if you are a one-outlet organisation, considering opening an outlet in an adjoining suburb
8. Continuing liaison with and educating those non-business organisations which interface with our industry - those representing financial counsellors, consumer law centres, university research centres and the like.
9. Building credibility by providing benefits to your customers e.g. access to customer service training, an external dispute resolution process and promotion of our Code of Conduct.
10. Shared engagement of professional advisers and the like, who many of the industry's individual businesses could not afford to engage by themselves.
Associate Members
Being business entities that have a direct connection, contact or interest in the micro and alternative financial services' industry in Australia. Associate members are welcome to attend Federation general meetings as observers, but do not participate in Federation ballots.
Your membership investment buys the following:
1. State wide and national coordinated representation for the micro-lending industry, which may well constitute a significant part of your market, with Departments of Fair Trading, Ministers, Advisers and Ministerial Committees throughout your State and Australia.
2. The development of substantial written submissions to government to advance the industry's position.
3. Industry research to assist in submissions on the industry's behalf and to assist the development of its businesses, which will benefit you.
4. Communication to members
1. Relevant industry updates - keeping you totally informed of proposals for industry reviews and regulatory changes
2. Opportunities for display and classified advertising for your services and/or products
5. Invitations to Federation conferences, seminars and exhibitions - your opportunity to present and display information concerning your products and/or services and a chance to network with the industry as a whole.
