Free financial counselling
Financial counselling is a free service offered by community organisations, community legal centres and some government agencies. Their focus is always on the needs of their clients and they work without conflict of interest.
A financial counsellor can help you get a clear picture of your situation and work out a budget. They might help you negotiate repayment arrangements with your credit providers or prepare applications for hardship variations. They’ll talk you through your options and the consequences, including what happens if you go bankrupt. They can then help you with any negotiations you might need to make.
Some businesses also provide a service to help people struggling with debt – for a fee. Make sure you know what service you are getting from these businesses, how much it is going to cost you and whether you can get the same service for free from a financial counsellor.
What financial counsellors do
Financial counsellors can:
- help you organise your financial information, design a personal budget and suggest ways to change and improve your financial situation
- assess your eligibility for government assistance
- negotiate with your creditors
- explain debt recovery procedures, bankruptcy and other alternatives
- refer you to other services, for example, gambling, family support, personal counselling or community legal aid.
Typical problems financial counsellors can assist with include:
- financial over-commitment – having more debt than you can deal with
- threatening letters, harassment by debt collectors
- debt recovery through the courts
- house eviction, disconnection of gas, electricity, phone etc
- uninsured car accidents, taxation debts and unpaid fines.
Financial counselling organisations
The Australian Financial Counselling and Credit Reform association (AFCCRA) is the peak body for the independent financial counselling sector. See www.afccra.org
| Australian Capital Territory | Care Financial Counselling Service
Tel: 02-6257 1788
Telephone advice and referral to a financial counsellor
Salvation Army Moneycare
Tel: 02-6247 3635
Lifeline gambling and financial counselling
Tel: 02-6247 0655 |
| New South Wales | Credit and Debt Hotline
Tel: 1800 808 488 or 02-9212 4111
Telephone advice and referral to a financial counsellor
Financial Counsellors' Association of New South Wales
Tel: 1300 914 408
Referral to a financial counsellor
www.fcan.com.au |
| Northern Territory | Somerville Community Services
Darwin: 08-8920 4100
Katherine: 08-08 8972 5100
Tangentyere Council Financial Counselling Service
Telephone 08 8951 4257
www.tangentyere.org.au/
Anglicare NT Financial Counselling
Darwin Financial Counselling Service Tel: 08-8985 0000
Katherine Financial Counselling Service Tel: 08-8972 1571
East Arnhem Financial Counselling Service Tel: 08-8987 3022
Top End Financial Counselling Service Tel: 08-8985 0000
Alice Springs Financial Counselling Service Tel: 08-8951 8000 |
| Queensland | Financial Counsellors Association of Queensland
Tel: 07-3321 3192
Referral to a financial counsellor
Financial First Aid
Tel: 1300 370 255
For those experiencing financial difficulties living in Queensland |
| South Australia | Uniting Care Wesley Adelaide
Tel: 08-8202 5180
Referral to a financial counsellor
Northern Community Legal Service
Tel: 08-8281 6911
Telephone advice and referral to a financial counsellor
South Australian Financial Counsellors Association
Child Youth and Family Services
Tel: 08-8226 7000 |
| Tasmania | Anglicare Financial Counselling Service
Tel: 1800 243 232
Referral to a financial counsellor
Consumer Credit Solicitor, Hobart Community Legal Service
Tel: 03-6223 2500 or 1800 232 500
Telephone advice and referral to a financial counsellor |
| Victoria | Consumer Affairs Victoria
Tel: 1300 55 81 81
Advice on credit and debt issues and referral to a financial counsellor
Consumer Action Law Centre
Tel: 03 9629 6300
Advice on credit and debt
Advice to Public (legal): 03-9629 6300 / 1300 881 020,
Advice to Consumer Caseworkers (legal): 03-9602 3326
MoneyHelp
Tel: Tel: 1800 149 689
Not-for-profit Victorian Government service providing free, confidential financial counselling advice for Victorians experiencing job loss or reduced working hours. |
| Western Australia | Financial Counsellors Resource Project
Tel: 08-9221 9411
Referral to a financial counsellor
Consumer Credit Legal Service
Tel: 08-9221 7066
Telephone advice and referral to a financial counsellor
Financial Counsellors Association of Western Australia
Tel:1800 889 364 |
Some community legal centres also provide financial counselling. For links to a community legal centre in your area go to www.nla.aust.net.au or look in the phone book.
Conditions financial counsellors must meet
Financial counsellors can offer full and independent financial counselling services without being licensed under the Corporations Act because we have exempted them from holding a licence. However they must meet certain conditions such as no fees, charges or commissions.
Rural financial counselling for primary producers, fishers and small rural businesses in rural areas
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) supports the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) Program.
The RFCS Programme provides funding to organisations to deliver rural financial counselling throughout rural Australia by employing rural financial counsellors to assist clients in need of financial assistance.
The RFCS Programme has been established with the primary role of supporting primary producers, fishermen and small rural businesses who are suffering financial hardship, and who have no alternative sources of impartial support, to manage the challenges of industry change and adjustment.
RFCS funds free and impartial rural financial counselling services throughout Australia.
To view a directory of rural financial counselling service locations visit www.rfcs.gov.au.
Alternatively, call 1800 686 175 (Freecall) and speak to a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry staff member who has contact details.
More about managing your debts
FIDO Website: Printed 02/10/2010
