Some career changes begin with a plan; others start with an opportunity.
For our latest ICAN Learn graduates, that moment was different for each of them, yet it brought them together from across Australia to Cairns to celebrate their graduation during FCA Conference week.
We were lucky enough to catch up with three graduates – Dawn Meloury, Folole Tasi, and Sebastian Thompson for a quick yarn on their big night.
Dawn Meloury (WA)
“It’s such an honour to receive a financial counselling scholarship,” Dawn says. “I feel proud, excited for the future, and really supported.”
Not long ago, things felt very different.
When Dawn first connected with ICAN Learn, she was at a crossroads. She wasn’t sure what direction to take next, just that something needed to change. After contacting ICAN Learn about the Diploma of Financial Counselling, she got a callback offering her a Commonwealth Bank RAP FastTrack Scholarship with ICAN Learn.
“I just thought, you’ve got to be kidding – someone’s investing in me?” she says. “It felt like such a gift – exactly what I needed at that point in my life.”
Folole Tasi (NT)
For Folole Tasi, being awarded the Jan Pentland Financial Counselling Scholarship felt just as powerful. She describes the experience as both emotional and hard-earned.
“I was very emotional when I was awarded the Jan Pentland Financial Counselling Scholarship”, she says.
“It’s something I’d been dreaming about, so to actually be given that opportunity was next level. It was amazing.”
The course, completed through ICAN Learn, brought growth and challenge, strengthening her existing knowledge and giving her a clearer sense of how she could support others.
“It’s given me hope that many lives will be helped through what I’ve learned,” she says.
Sebastian Thompson (NSW)
For Sebastian, the path looked a little different.
After around a decade in the Child, Youth and Family sector, he moved into a business and data analyst role – a role he enjoyed, but he missed the frontline work.
“When I left that role, I knew I wanted to get back to working directly with people,” he says. “I’ve always been interested in financial wellbeing, especially how money stress shows up in people’s lives, so financial counselling felt like a natural fit.”
As he explored study options, ICAN Learn quickly stood out.
“The trainers are practising financial counsellors, which makes a huge difference,” Sebastian says.
“You’re not just learning theory – you can ask real questions, hear real stories, and get a genuine sense of what the work actually looks like.”
“The flexibility of the hybrid model really suited me,” he explains. “Being able to work through the theory in my own time was great, but just as valuable was coming together with the group, hearing different perspectives and learning from each other’s experiences.”
Connection across locations
That sense of connection is something all three share. Despite the students being spread across the country, the support was constant, from trainers and from each other.
“We’re all from different parts of Australia, but the support was always there,” Dawn says. “It never felt like I was just trying to get through a course on my own, it felt like being part of something bigger.”
For anyone considering the Diploma of Financial Counselling, Sebastian says the message is simple:
“There’s really nothing to lose – the trainers are incredibly supportive with lived experience, and you’re given every chance to succeed. ICAN Learn makes the whole learning process genuinely enjoyable.”
Their paths to a new career may have been different, but they’re now stepping forward with a shared commitment to helping others.
Dawn, Folole, and Sebastian studied the Diploma of Financial Counselling CHC51122 with ICAN Learn (RTO ID: 45177).
Want to find out more?
Head to our website for current courses and scholarships, or reach out to us at administration@icanlearn.edu.au
