It’s been nearly a decade since Patrick Heenan first graduated with a Diploma of Financial Counselling through ICAN Learn. Today, his story is one of full-circle return, deep community connection, and a future focused on leadership and advocacy.
Since completing his studies in 2016, Patrick has walked a path that’s taken him from frontline community services to the halls of Parliament House in Canberra. He spent over four years working in the political sphere with the Labor government in Darwin, and later with Marion Scrymgour, Federal Labour Member for Lingiari in the Northern Territory, gaining valuable experience in engagement and advocacy.
“I got to see what it was like working in that space and meeting people on the ground, talking to voters, and understanding their concerns,” Patrick reflected. “Having the diploma gave me that foundational knowledge – especially when people brought up issues like superannuation, I could talk with confidence.”
But despite the opportunities in politics, Patrick always knew his heart lay in community. “I said if I was to go back and do anything, I’d probably want to come back into this space,” he shared. “This work is meaningful. You get to help people and see firsthand the vulnerability that exists in remote communities.”
Patrick’s current role sees him back on Country, working at where he started his financial counselling journey, HK Money Management, to provide advocacy and financial counselling support across West Arnhem communities. As a proud Tiwi man and language speaker of Tiwi, Maung and Kunwinjku, Patrick breaks down communication barriers and builds trust in places where English is often a third or fourth language.
“Being able to speak the language immediately builds that connection,” he said. “It helps when we’re talking about complex issues like debt, scams, and financial hardship.”
A recent highlight in his work was facilitating a visit from the ASIC Commissioner, Kate O’Rourke to the Tiwi Islands – a trip he’d long advocated for. “It gave people in leadership roles a real insight into what our mob are facing out bush – the struggles, the scams, and how easy it is for our people to be taken advantage of.”
Patrick is also taking on new advocacy challenges, including the growing concern around online gambling and mounting rental debts in remote housing. “A lot of this stuff ramped up during COVID. Now, families are losing money without understanding how these systems work, and there’s still not enough education out there.”
As for the future, Patrick is thinking big – not just for himself, but for his community. “One day, I want to get into some sort of leadership back home,” he said. “Whether it’s through council or maybe even running one day – I want to be in a position to give back when the time is right.”
He’s also passionate about mentoring the next generation. “Education is important, but it’s even more important to have family and mentors who are working and leading by example. That’s what I had, and that’s what made the difference.”
For now, Patrick is happy to be “back where it all started,” both in his career and on the football field, finishing his playing days with the Palmerston Magpies. Whether it’s on the ground or in the community, Patrick Heenan continues to lead by example – bridging two worlds with integrity, purpose, and pride.
