Free financial counselling

Financial counselling is a free and independent service offered by community organisations, community legal centres and some government agencies.

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 counselling organisations
Conditions financial counsellors must meet
Financial counselling for primary producers, fishers and small rural businesses in rural areas

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 FCAWA is the peak body for Financial Counsellors in WA and can provide referrals to Financial Counsellors in WA. Tel: 08-9325 1617 (office number) or Hotline: 1800 889 364 - Financial Counsellors give information, options and support for individuals and families to explore, develop and implement strategies to overcome their financial situation.

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 07/31/2010