Financial counselling
Financial counselling services help people who are in financial difficulty. They are available in every state and territory and provide a free, independent and confidential service. They can help you manage a short-term crisis and plan to prevent a future one. Financial counsellors can help you remain independent and take full control of your own financial affairs.
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
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 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
| Australian Capital Territory |
- Care Financial Counselling Service
02 6257 1788
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| New South Wales |
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| Northern Territory |
- Anglicare Northern Territory Financial Counselling Service
08 8948 2700 or 08 8985 0000
- Somerville Community Services (Darwin area)
08 8920 4100
- Tangentyre Council (Alice Springs area)
08 8951 4222
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| Queensland |
- Financial Counselling Assocation of Queensland
07 332 13192
www.fcqn.asn.au
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| South Australia |
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| Tasmania |
- Anglicare Financial Counselling Service
03 6234 3510 or 1800 243 232
- Consumer Credit Solicitor at Hobart Community Legal Service
03 6223 2500 or 1800 232 500
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| Victoria |
- Consumer Affairs Victoria
1300 55 8181
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| Western Australia |
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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 AAA 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 07/05/2009
