There are three things an organisation must consider before applying for membership to the Federation. All members must adhere to Federation's philosophy, abide by the Code of Ethics, and meet the criteria for affiliation. Although there are no aspects to any of these things that are particularly onerous it is important for organisations to carefully consider these documents before making a commitment to apply for membership.
Affiliation to the Federation is extremely beneficial to its members and it is for this reason that the Federation adheres to strict guidelines governing service delivery. The Federation's very well respected name in the industry has been earned over many years of high quality service to the Aotearoa-New Zealand community and the Federation continues to strive to uphold this status. This section offers a thorough overview of NZFFBS membership and should be read in its entirety by all organisations considering applying for membership with the Federation.
Benefits of Membership
Training - Access to NZQA Recognised budget adviser training
The Federation provides a very comprehensive and up-to-date training programme for budget advisers. The Budget Adviser Introductory Course is a complete, structured training programme delivered by accredited Federation tutors. The course has been developed over a number of years in consultation with the community, experienced advisers and budget service clients.
The course is recognised by the Social Services Industry Training Organisation, Te Kaiāwhina Ahumahi, to enable participants to achieve a cluster of unit standards (Limited Credit Program) and work towards a level four qualification on the National Qualifications Framework. Training participants are then able to gain unit standards toward the National Certificate in Social Services by completing work based assessment with the ITO. This is a very powerful recruitment and retention option to attract people into the volunteer sector.
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Tutors - Access to the national Federation tutor network
The Federation recruits a trained pool of Federation accredited tutors annually to provide all of the training needs for its members. The tutors are systematically appraised by the Federation's Training Manager to ensure their delivery standards are kept very high. The tutors own skills are also kept up-to-date through national and regional tutor forums. The Federation's network of tutors are able to provide training in all regions and districts throughout New Zealand. The costs of maintaining this network is completely covered by the Federation.
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Resources - Access to free manuals, user-guides, and service stationery
A number of manuals, guides and handbooks have been developed to support the capability of budget services. These guides are regularly updated and offer an extraordinary level of detail. A budgeting organisation could set itself up from scratch using these comprehensive guides. The Federation also works constructively with other organisations to develop relevant resources to assist service delivery. One of these relationships has resulted in the Federation database. The Federation has invested a signifcant sum on behalf of its members to develop a client management and budgeting tool. Federation services receive free upgrades to this software every year.
The extensive experience of the Federation has been used to create a complete set of forms and stationery for services and advisers to use. Along with stationery items, the Federation has a constantly updated range of pamphlets, posters, videos and library resources. All of the Federation resources are provided to members completely free. The Federation covers the cost of development, printing and distribution of all its resources.
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Funding - Federation membership recognised by all major funders
Affiliation to the Federation is very important to members when accessing the various funding streams available in New Zealand. The Federation, through its assurance of a consistently high level of service delivery, has ensured that its name is known and respected by funding bodies. Due to the rigorous affiliation criteria and annually reviewed standards of service, funders know that Federation affiliated budget services are safe and viable community organisations and this is an extremely valuable funding tool. Such funders include Family and Community Services, the Community Organisation Grants scheme, many of the community trusts, industry supporters and other philanthropic bodies.
The Federation continues to lobby major funders to ensure that funding to budget services is regularly reviewed. More recently, the Federation has been worked closely with Family and Community Services to ensure that government service contracts both in terms of contract rates and service deliverables are fair and representative of our work.
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Accords - Access to the Federation's national accords
Only Federation members have access to the range of accords the Federation has developed with industry partners. These accords benefit budget service clients and increase the range of services an organisation can provide. The Federation has developed an important relationship with Telecom, which offers member clients access to a special repayment scheme for Telecom debts, Budgetlink, and Connect Assist programmes. The Federation has negotiated with private organisations and a number of banks to assist clients. Relationships have also been developed with government departments to benefit members. These include Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Insolvency and Trustee Service, Housing New Zealand, Inland Revenue Department, Work and Income and the Ministry of Social Development. Community sector organisations are also involved directly with Federation members such as the Cancer Society, New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations, Volunteering New Zealand and the Gambling Foundation. A national agreement for referral services has also been developed with the SEED foundation. The Federation continues to actively seek out accords with organisations to benefit its members.
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Networking - Opportunities for local, regional, and national networking
As part of the overall Federation networking and communication strategy district and regional representatives are responsible for coordinating district and regional meetings and other networking opportunities each year. These forums ensure collective knowledge and best practice is communicated throughout the network and provide opportunity for training workshops and presentations from industry and government experts. Maori representatives also support the Federation through its partnership policy, which promotes consultation and communication with Maori to increase the effectiveness of its service to Maori clients; these representatives create networking opportunities for Maori-based services.
Each year the Federation holds its AGM, which provides an opportunity for networking and also for services to provide feedback into the policy of the Federation. Opportunities are also made available for experts to provide industry-related information to the membership. Every second year the Federation holds its national conference. The conference is a major event in the budgeting calendar. A full range of workshops, speakers and events is included over the three day conference and networking opportunities are made available to well over 200 delegates that attend biennially.
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Support - A full range of support from Federation staff and representatives
More than 30 experienced representatives currently volunteer for the Federation. Categorised as Maori, district and regional representatives these committed volunteers work actively to support members, create opportunities for networking, coordinate communications across the country and ensure that a consistently high-quality service is delivered by Federation members. These volunteers work very closely with new members to help organise their training and affiliation requirements and continue to work actively with members once they become affiliated.
In addition to this support, the Federation partnered with the Tindall Foundation and Child, Youth and Family on a new initiative, the Capacity Strengthening pilot project. This project has successfully grown and four Field Officers work constructively with new and current members to increase their capacity to deliver budget advice in their community.
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Advocacy - Your organisation's views advocated at the national level
The Federation representative network has been set up to provide services with a voice at the national level. Prior to all National Board meetings, services are able to pass on local issues and concerns to their representative to be heard at the national level. This is an extremely positive model that ensures grass-roots services are closely linked to the national decision making body.
Nationally, the Federation national office provides a broad range of advice, consultation and submissions to policy makers both in government departments and private industry organisations. By constantly canvassing its members and ensuring its members’ views are regularly communicated, the Federation has built up a collective knowledge in the consumer finance industry that is highly respected and in constant demand. This active form of advocacy is a major benefit to budget services and their clients.
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Information - Federation monthly newsletter
The monthly newsletter Budgetline is produced by the Federation and includes articles on relevant current issues and Federation network news and events. The enclosures regularly include Trainline the Federation's training newsletter, Blue Paper, which includes information for management committees, the Governance newsletter updating the membership on policy issues, From the Field, a regular update from our Field Officers, as well as regular information from government and industry organisations. The regular collection and distribution of information ensures our members' staff are always kept fully up-to-date with new government policy and legislation, relevant events, news and issues affecting the community sector and the latest industry information affecting their clients.
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Listings - Free listing every year in the Telecom White Pages
All members are provided with one listing in the Telecom White Pages under 'budget advice services' each year. This is the easiest way for clients to locate services in their area and is a very effective marketing tool. Wherever possible the Federation promotes the White Pages local listings as the best way for clients to locate its members.
Service’s contact details are then replicated
on the Federation website. The directory page provides a full listing of Federation members to the public. The website receives over 7000 page views a month and this page is one of the most visited. Both of these services are provided completely free.
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Referrals - the 0508 Budgetline freephone
A more recent initiative by the Federation is the establishment of a freephone number for clients. 0508 Budgetline (0508 283 438) is a free service providing budgeting advice and referrals to local services. A fully qualified budget adviser answers the freephone and can provide some budgeting advice directly over the phone. This service utilises email to help clients complete their own budgets at home and provides a broad range of advice to clients on all consumer finance issues. Cases that are too difficult to provide advice over the phone to and clients that request a referral are referred to a service close to them. The freephone service takes some pressure off budget services and is also reaching a new range of clients.
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Training
The Federation provides a very comprehensive and up-to-date training programme for budget advisers. The Budget Adviser Introductory Course is a complete, structured training programme delivered by accredited Federation tutors.
The course has been developed over a number of years in consultation with the community, experienced advisers, and budget services.
The course is recognised by the Social Services Industry Training Organisation, Te Kaiāwhina Ahumahi, to enable participants to achieve a cluster of unit standards (Limited Credit Program) and work towards a level four qualification on the National Qualifications Framework. This includes Unit Standard 7974 – Provide Budget Advice and Monitoring for Users of Social Services. The cluster (LCP) is awarded once the course, probation and advocacy have been completed. Training participants are then able to gain unit standards toward the National Certificate in Social Services by completing work based assessment with the ITO. The LCP is only awarded as part of the National Certificate and is not a standalone qualification. The Federation and the Social Services ITO are currently testing enrolment processes.
The Federation contracts a trained pool of accredited tutors annually to provide all of the training needs for its members. The tutors are systematically appraised to ensure their delivery standards are kept very high. The tutors' own skills are also kept up-to-date through national and regional tutor forums. The Federation's network of tutors are able to provide training in all regions and districts throughout New Zealand. The costs of maintaining this network is completely covered by the Federation.
Federation accredited tutors also deliver ongoing training modules to budget advisers. To ensure the high quality of advice given, there is a policy requirement for budget advisers to keep their skills up-to-date by attending one three hour ongoing training module per year. The modules are developed in-house by the Federation Training Manager and relevant, external training can be recognised to fulfil this policy requirement. This is an undemanding requirement and is the absolute minimum required of advisers to ensure their skills are kept current for the protection of clients.
A brief overview of the Federation's training policy can be viewed here:
Training Policy Overview.pdf
The outline of the Budget Adviser Introductory Course can be viewed here:
Budget Adviser Introductory Course Outline.pdf
Membership Categories
You can be an affiliated, transitional, satellite, associate or
life member.
Affiliated member
Policy Statement:
An affiliated budgeting service is an Ordinary Member of the Federation and is a family budgeting service whose affiliation to the Federation depends on its meeting the criteria determined from time to time by the Federation. Any body corporate engaged in New Zealand in the advising and counselling of individuals and families/whanau on budgeting and financial matters, and whose methods of operation and business ethics conform with the criteria laid down by the Federation from time to time, shall make an annual application to the Secretary, on the approved form and shall, with the approval of the National Board, become a member through Affiliation.
An Affiliated budgeting service is a voluntary, community based, non-profit organisation, which offers a free, confidential and culturally aware service. Its one basic objective is to help people learn about handling money.
Each budget service has its own legal identity and management committee structure. Its methods of operation are not in conflict with those advocated by the Federation. An affiliated budget service offers free budget advice to all its clients. (This does not exclude the charging of a minimal fee, on some occasions, to cover the cost of administration of certain programmes). Services are culturally aware and observe full confidentiality when working with clients. Budget advice and support is provided mainly by volunteers, although increasingly some services do pay some of their budget advisers.
The Federation National Board retains the right to decline an application from any organisation. The Board, subject to the procedures in the Federation Rules, may suspend an organisation's membership. Under the Federation Rules the Board is also responsible for deciding the criteria for affiliation.
Transitional member
Policy Statement:
A Transitional Member of the Federation is any organisation that can be given special consideration while working towards full affiliation. Any body corporate working towards full affiliation of the Federation, by setting in place methods of operation and business ethics that conform to the criteria laid down from time to time by the National Board may be granted transitional membership.
If the organisation is unable to fulfil all the affiliation criteria but wishes to work towards that goal, Transitional (Affiliation) membership can be offered. Before a recommendation is made for full affiliation the organisation must at least be able to demonstrate compliance with affiliation criteria numbers 1, 1a, 3, 6, 7 and 9. This means that the group must:
a) If its a stand-alone organisation have a committee, which hold separate records and if its holistic, a clear and defined structure, which is able to provide direction, support and keep accurate financial and other records specific to the budgeting activities,
b) Have advisers that, if the organisation was affiliated, are eligible to hold a Federation Certificate in Competency in Budget Advising and who also agree to ongoing training,
c) Have a minimum of three certificated advisers working in the budget service that are available to give free, confidential and non-judgemental advice to clients,
d) Have demonstrated its intention to work within the Code of Ethics, the aims and objects of the Federation and the Budget Service Manual, and
e) Have the intention to offer an ongoing educational component to clients.
Transitional Membership is requested through the District Representative and a proposed date for full affiliation is indicated. A timeframe will be negotiated with the District Representative to enable the applicant group to meet all the criteria. During the Transitional membership period the budget service will:
a) Have the right to attend Federation meetings with speaking but no voting rights,
b) Receive the newsletter, Budgetline, at Federation cost, and
c) Receive support and training from Federation personnel.
A Transitional service will not be eligible to use Federation stationery or logo. Subject to the payment of a bond and to signing an indemnity, it will have the option to use the Budget Service Manual and other technical guides.
Satellite member
Policy Statement:
The Federation will accept a satellite service if the following are in place:
a) The ‘parent’ budgeting service provides all the administration and Management functions.
b) Procedures are in place for resourcing the satellite service, i.e. phone calls, face to face meetings, involvement with ‘parent’ office functions, regular reimbursement of volunteer expenses, etc.
c) There is good management of advisers from the ‘parent’ budgeting service, i.e. supervision, monitoring, contact and communication.
Smaller budget services are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with management documentation and procedures. The effort and resources needed to keep a Co-ordinator and Management Committee working well, never mind the requirements of being a legal entity (meetings, members, returns etc.), sometimes prove too much and the people concerned think that they should not bother to establish or they should close the service. This is especially so where there are few people involved, resulting in a duplication of roles within the service, eg a Co-ordinator is also the Secretary and the Chairperson is also a budget adviser. Not only does this often cause a blurring of responsibilities for the people concerned but it is also not clear to the community exactly who is doing what within the service and communication can be difficult. Services with very few people involved find that the workload for those people is unacceptably high resulting in high turnover of staff – if replacements can be found! Other organisations are finding it difficult to maintain the Federation’s standard of a minimum of three certificated budget advisers.
The alternative of operating as a satellite service might be considered. Instead of closing the service and losing good budget advisers it may be possible to join up with another organisation in the area. Budget advice can continue to be offered to clients whilst the complexities of management of the service can be done by a larger ‘parent’ organisation already set up to do this. Thus the requirements of Inland Revenue, Charities Commission, Family and Community Services, Federation, other funding bodies and the Ministry of Economic Development can be satisfied. Satellite services can be set up in any location as long as their parent service is close enough to provide effective management and supervision. Thus a small, urban service could easily combine forces with a larger service in the same town whilst a struggling service in a small rural community could consider joining with a service in a larger town or settlement.
Associate member
The fourth membership category is known as associate membership. Associate members are organisations that share the Federation's philosophy and mission but do not offer budget advice to the public themselves. Becoming an associate member gives the organisation access to the Federation network through district and regional meetings and invitations to Federation events, such as the biennial Conference and AGM. A free copy of the monthly Federation newsletter Budgetline is also available to associate members. There is a small annual fee for associate membership.
Life member
The Federation also recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution to the affairs of the Federation.
Affiliation Criteria
There are a number of criteria that an organisation must meet and adhere to in order to become a fully affiliated member of the NZFFBS. The policy document is updated from time to time and currently consists of 15 criteria that ensure a high quality of budget advice is offered and that a service has a sound and sustainable structure. The most current document can be viewed here:
NZFFBS Inc Affiliation Criteria.pdf
One of the services offered by some members is a financial management system called Total Money Management. This system allows the budget service to take over a client's finances for a defined period in accordance with the agreed budget. The client can then learn the necessary skills needed to run their own finances over a longer period of time without the stress caused by financial crises getting in the way. A very strict policy has been set by the National Board if this service is to be offered. This policy has been set to protect Federation clients from the possibility of mismanagement of client money. Federation budget services can offer this level of protection to clients. The standards can be found here:
NZFFBS Inc TMM Minimum Standards.pdf
Membership Representatives
At the grassroots level, member services are supported by a
network of Federation volunteers. Over 30 experienced
representatives currently volunteer for the Federation.
Categorised as Maori, district, and regional representatives
these people work actively to support members, create
opportunities for networking, coordinate communications across
the country, and ensure that a consistently high level of
quality service is delivered by Federation members.
A strong national network supported by experienced practitioners
is fundamental to the ongoing success of family budgeting in New
Zealand. The Federation has been developing this highly successful
model for over 30 years. The representatives that volunteer for the
Federation uphold the views of local budget services and particular
client groups and also support the strength created by a well
managed nationally coordinated effort.
Maori representatives support the views of budget services' Maori
clients. These representatives, supported by their Kaumatua, do not
represent any particular Iwi group but rather represent the views of
all Maori clients at the very highest decision making level within
the Federation. Maori representatives help to fulfil the
Federation's partnership policy and uphold the Federation's
commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
District representatives are democratically voted into 23
volunteer positions that represent the views of geographically
clustered budget services. This very successful participatory model
ensures the views of grass roots services are heard in the national
decision making forum.
Federation districts are grouped into seven regions throughout
the country. Each of these regions is managed by a regional
representative, who is democratically voted in annually, and sits on
the National Board. Regional representatives create policy at the
national level and utilise the knowledge of district
representatives, who they work with in close consultation, to ensure
the views of all budget services are heard during the decision
making process.
As part of the overall Federation networking and communication
strategy the district and regional representatives are responsible
for coordinating district and regional meetings every year. These
forums are a valuable contribution to budget service staffs'
professional development and ensure collective knowledge and best
practice models are passed on throughout the network. They also
provide an opportunity to offer training workshops and presentations
from industry and government experts.
The Federation assumes total responsibility for the costs of
coordinating this huge volunteer effort. The Federation also
contributes significantly to some of the costs of holding district
and regional meetings throughout the country.
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