The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has established an expanded consumer advisory panel.

The panel will also provide insight on strategic and policy matters, and highlight issues facing consumers. It will be chaired by former Financial and Consumer Rights Council executive officer Peter Gartlan.

Ten consumer organisations will sit on the panel, compared with seven on the panel of predecessor the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

Settlement Services International, the Indigenous Consumer Action Network, Financial Counselling Australia and Uniting Country SA have joined the new panel.

Representatives from the FOS panel are Legal Aid organisations in NSW and Queensland, the Consumer Action Law Centre, the Financial Rights Legal Centre, the Salvos and the Consumer Credit Legal Service in WA. Uniting Communities has left the panel.

“Consumer organisations see thousands of people every year and have unique perspectives that can help inform AFCA’s work,” CEO David Locke said.

“AFCA is a new organisation and open feedback is important as we continue to improve our processes and services.”

The panel will meet quarterly around Australia, with the first meeting in Melbourne this month. It will also run open sessions for the public.