Scholarships
The Jan Pentland scholarships are awarded annually, at the Jan Pentland Foundation dinner. This is held in May of each year in conjunction with the annual financial counselling conference.
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The scholarship provides financial assistance to individuals who are undertaking study or are intending to undertake study in financial counselling.
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In recent years, the Foundation has been able to provide more scholarships than previously. This has largely been made possible because of a donation of $50,000 per annum from the Commonwealth Bank (for 2017-2026). Other scholarships in previous years were funded by the NSW Government (Minister for Women), Credit Corp and staff at the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. In 2025, Credit Corp provided funding for two scholarships. One of these scholarships was specifically awarded to a First Nations individual.
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The 2027 scholarship round will open Monday 7th December, 2026, closing Friday 26th February, 2027.
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"To look is one thing. To see what you look at is another. To understand what you see is a third. To learn from what you understand is something else. But to act on what you learn is all that really matters."
It is believed this quote had a special significance for Jan and it describes how she lived her life. It is also the advice she might have given to the scholarship winners.
2026
SCHOLARSHIP
WINNERS
Alexander Radoll
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Alexander currently works as an Advice Line Worker with the National Debt Helpline, where he supports clients with appointment bookings and provides non-financial counselling assistance.
Through previous involvements in community projects, he brings experience collaborating with multicultural, rural, and remote communities.
He is committed to ongoing professional development within the financial counselling sector and to building a long-term career supporting people experiencing financial hardship and vulnerability.
Courtney Forrester
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Courtney discovered her passion for financial capability work in March 2025, and after completing a Certificate IV in Community Services, became motivated to pursue a long-term career as a Financial Counsellor.
She is committed to providing culturally safe and accessible financial support, believing that cultural understanding and consistency are key to helping clients achieve positive long-term outcomes. Driven by both personal and professional ambitions, Courtney is focused on building a meaningful career helping people strengthen their relationship with money.
Donna Pittman
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Donna is passionate about supporting people experiencing financial stress by combining practical financial guidance with a strong counselling background. Donna is committed to helping clients strengthen their financial wellbeing, build confidence in managing money, and navigate challenges.
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With a compassionate and client-focused approach, Donna aims to address both the practical and emotional impacts of financial hardship.Donna is excited to contribute positively to the financial counselling sector and make a meaningful difference in the lives of her clients.
Eliana Negri
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As a psychotherapist Eliana brings valuable experience supporting individuals navigating complex legal processes and financial hardship, with a deep understanding of systemic inequities affecting vulnerable populations.
Inspired by this work, she is pursuing a career in financial counselling with a commitment to trauma-informed practice and advocacy.
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Her goal is to create accessible resources and training that empower professionals to recognize the hidden signs of abuse and respond in ways that prioritize safety, dignity, and autonomy, ultimately helping individuals rebuild their lives and achieve long-term financial independence.
Hannah Loudon
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Hannah works as a Financial Counsellor with a community organisation, where she supports clients across a large rural area. She has a background in financial services and a personal connection to financial hardship.
Living and working rurally gives her firsthand understanding of the unique challenges faced by people in regional communities, including access to services, transport barriers and financial pressures.
She has supported over 70 clients, advocating on their behalf and helping them navigate complex financial challenges. Her focus is on building trust and showing clients that they are supported during difficult times.
Jessica Irvine
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With more than two decades of experience as a financial journalist, personal finance author and commentator, Jessica is now expanding her expertise through financial counselling, supporting people facing urgent financial challenges.
She is dedicated to reducing financial hardship and empowering people to feel more confident managing their money. Jessica has a particular interest in assisting women who have experienced economic abuse and hopes to combine her frontline counselling experience with her knowledge of policy and advocacy to drive reforms that improve financial wellbeing for vulnerable Australians.
Jessica Lie
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In her role with AnglicareSA, Jessica works closely with individuals and families experiencing financial hardship, building strong connections and helping them navigate challenging circumstances.
Originally from a CALD background, Jessica brings empathy, cultural awareness and a strong commitment to supporting people through complex financial challenges. She is passionate about understanding each person's unique circumstances and empowering them with the knowledge, confidence and support needed to make informed decisions about their financial future.
Kathryn Torpey
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Through her work alongside financial counsellors, Katherine has developed a strong understanding of the challenges faced by diverse communities, including migrants, refugees, rural residents, women and people on low incomes.
Living and working in regional Victoria, Kathryn brings compassion, practical support and a deep appreciation of the unique barriers many people face.
She is currently undertaking the Diploma of Financial Counselling and hopes to combine direct client support with advocacy for fairer systems, improved financial literacy and greater access to assistance for vulnerable communities.
Kimberly Murphy
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Based in Alice Springs, Kimberly works with individuals facing homelessness and complex financial challenges, with a particular focus on supporting First Nations communities across Central Australia.
Drawing on her experience with the Commonwealth Bank Indigenous Customer Assistance Line and her current leadership role in the homelessness sector, Kimberly brings a strong understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable people in regional and remote communities.
Through financial counselling, she hopes to empower people through practical guidance, financial literacy and advocacy, helping to create pathways to greater stability and independence.
Lisa Booth
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Lisa is a Financial Resilience Worker, supporting individuals and families experiencing vulnerability through the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS).
With over a decade of experience in the community sector, her path toward financial counselling has been shaped by both professional insight and personal understanding of financial hardship.
Lisa brings deep cultural knowledge and a warm, relationship-centred approach that enables her to build genuine trust across diverse communities.
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She is committed to improving financial literacy, reducing financial hardship, and strengthening outcomes for the communities she serves.
Madeline Dohanos
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Madeline is a Financial Resilience Worker with Good Shepherd. Her naturally adaptive, people-centred approach is reflected in her extensive experience across multicultural environments.
She regularly works with clients from diverse backgrounds, often with the support of interpreters. With a background in adult teaching and social services, Madeline sees financial counselling as a natural next step in her commitment to empowering her community.
Melissa Tankard
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Melissa is a Financial Resilience Worker whose passion for making a meaningful difference in people's lives drew her to the financial counselling profession.
Based in a rural community where access to financial support services is especially vital, she has wasted no time making an impact, alongside her casework, launching her first financial literacy workshop in the community.
Melissa is passionate about helping people take control of their finances and build a more secure future.
Sainiana Ralulu
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In her role providing emergency relief and financial support services in multicultural communities, Sainiana works closely with migrants, refugees, women and families facing complex financial challenges.
Drawing on her experience in both community services and family violence support, she brings a compassionate, culturally responsive approach to helping people navigate barriers and access the assistance they need.
As a Social Science graduate and aspiring financial counsellor, Sainiana is committed to strengthening financial literacy, advocacy and equitable access to support, particularly for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Sarah Williams
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Sarah is committed to helping people navigate financial hardship and overcome barriers to financial wellbeing.
Through her work in social services across regional Victoria, she has gained valuable insight into the challenges faced by vulnerable communities, including migrants, refugees and people experiencing disadvantage.
She brings a compassionate, client-centred approach to her work and is passionate about combining financial counselling, advocacy and education to help people achieve greater financial security and independence.
Summit Karmacharya
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Summit is dedicated to improving financial wellbeing in remote communities and supporting people to navigate complex financial systems with confidence.
Based in Alice Springs and originally from Nepal, he works across Central Australian communities, helping clients access services, manage debt and make informed financial decisions.
Through financial counselling, Summit hopes to strengthen financial capability, provide practical advocacy and improve access to support for people living in regional and remote areas.
Verity Quill
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Verity brings extensive experience in financial capability, community education and sector development, having worked across Tasmania and Western Australia in roles focused on financial wellbeing and consumer protection.
In her current role, she supports communities across regional and remote areas, helping people build financial confidence and access appropriate support.
Passionate about strengthening the financial counselling sector, Verity is committed to combining financial literacy, advocacy and trauma-informed practice to improve outcomes for individuals and communities experiencing financial hardship.
2026
Alexander Radoll
Courtney Forrester​
Donna Pittman
Eliana Negri
Hannah Loudon
Jessica Irvine
Jessica Lie
Kathryn Torpey
Kimberly Murphy
Lisa Booth​
Madeleine Dohanos
Melissa Tankard
Sainiana Ralulu
​Sarah Williams
Summit Karmacharya
Verity Quill
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2025
Angela Lonegan
Arena Tan
Bianca Lyon
Brittney Matthews-Smith
Brooke O'Connor
Emily Browne
Folole Tasi
Jenny Moulden
Julia Anderson
Kate Moloney
Louise Hadfield
Lulu Hou
Nicole Buckler
Nouzi Besavend
Shelter Mastara
Tania McKenzie
Steven Zhang
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2024
Anthia Arhontissas
Holloway Buchanan
Helen Curmi
Zakaria Deng
Melissa Ferris
Coleen Forester
Jayde Fraser
Nadine Hegan
Sharon Laidler
Harley Love
Melissa Manning
Aria McLady
Yvette Pocock
Deanna Rimmer
Christina Walker
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2023
Caitlin Brindley
Rochelle Brogan
Yasmin Busbidge
Clarice Campos
Maggie Chambers
David Do
Barbara Jones
Amita Nand
Diana Porta
Shay-Anne Ross
Elias Simon
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2022
Abby Bartlett
Krithi Baskaran
Michelle Carroll
Alexander Dunnage
Caroline Graham
Katja Hauser
Sarah Holman
Alicia Nax
Sara O’Neill
Leilani Tasi
Julie Walter
Rachel Young
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2021
Kristen Conquest
Jazsikah Cox
Amanda Evans
Rhonda Griffiths
Haydn Jelly
Hayley Joyce
Toni Lackey
Lylia Martion
Kerryn Mickle
Helen Radford
Nel Staite
Paula Thompson
Eirene Tsolidis-Noyce
Belinda Walton
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2020
Gregory Cross
Savio D'Souza
Kate Fisher
Karen Garlett
Jacqueline Hannam
Samantha Hillman
Helen Kouppi
Geri Matlow
William McGurk
Natasha Mesecke
Julie Plummer
Shiara Pugh
Kelly Reid
Trudi Ridge
Monica Smith
Robyn Stavrou
Luke Webber
Genine Wakley
Sarah Stewart
Bernadette Wauchope
Nicole Piccolo
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2019
Kathy Bel-Bachir
Natasha Bollenhagen
Lyndall Bottrell
Andre Chan
Kym Clerke
Yazmin Cox
Jason Drane
David Fagan
Lauren Heald
Ann Howchin
Deena Husan
Nicola Lewis
Raelene Martin
Megan Molloy
Emma Neville
Chitsidzo Nyamidzi
Tracey Peart
John Ryan
Nikita Schmidt
Renee Westreheim
Kirsty Wilson
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2018
Banafsheh Abedali
Venetia Aprile
Karen Bird
Diane (Tang) Choo
Sarah Cooke
Alan Gray
Sue Gunning
Andrea Jones
Jaimee Marshall
Louise Murphy
Robert Rooth
Katie Sedunary
Troy West
2017
Nagla Ibrahim
Carolyn La
Diane Malupu
Gillian Leech
Jennifer Barclay-Smyth
Joanna Garratt
Joe Perera
Karen McEwan
Leanne Garth
Nicki Millington
McRoberts Olango
Peter Puketapu
Ronna Guzman
Sarah Bardsley
Skye Hawkins
Tracey Wagner
2016
John Harmer
Mary Pallis
Joyleen Monsoor
Carmel Devine
Eleanor Mason
2015
Shae Skinner
John Gilmour
Karyn Hicks
Shyam Banjade
2014
Aunty Joy Reid
Grant Rowe
Carly Baker
Husan Rzuehaji
Alison Waters
2013
Julie Barrow
Jessica Trill
Linda Footer
2012
Kedar Acharya
Anna Falconer
Anna Dooland
2011
Sandra Blake
2010
Cheryl Buttigieg
Mwajemi Hussein
