Financial counselling for families under stress

The Australian Government today announced $3.5 million in funding for 41 community and local government organisations to continue delivering Commonwealth Financial Counselling services to help ease the strain on people under financial pressure.

We know that many families are facing mortgage stress, cost of living increases and credit card debt against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty.

The availability of professional financial counselling services can provide help in managing these financial pressures in times of need.

All 41 current providers have received additional support as part of $10 million in extra funding which will be delivered over the next four years.

The funding means organisations can expand services including operating hours, outreach and community education activities.

The expanded program will assist Australians doing it tough to gain easier access to advice and guidance from financial counsellors.

The Australian Government will shortly be calling for applications for up to 20 new financial counselling positions to be established in high need areas this year.

These areas have been identified in consultation with State and Territory Governments and other stakeholders.

The community based financial counsellors provide free services to people who are experiencing personal financial difficulties.

They may be suffering from mortgage stress, cost of living pressures and credit card debt – often as a result of unemployment, sickness or family breakdown.

They get help to make informed decisions about their situation and how to better manage their financial affairs.

We want to equip people to take action early when faced with personal financial difficulties to reduce the likelihood of problems escalating.

The increased funding ensures services are more readily available to people in mortgage stress and in areas where people have little or no access to services.

Financial counselling providers:

ACT

CARE Inc

NSW

Centacare Sydney
Centacare Wilcannia-Forbes
Christian Community Aid Service Inc
Forster Neighbourhood Centre Inc
Illawarra Legal Centre Inc
Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter
Lifeline Macarthur
Lismore and District Financial Counselling Service Inc
Macarthur Legal Centre Inc
Mission Australia
Redfern Legal Centre Ltd
Wagga Wagga Family Support Service Inc
Wesley Counselling Services
Western NSW Community Legal Centre Inc

NT

Anglicare NT
Somerville Community Services Inc
Tangentyere Council Inc

QLD

CQ Financial Counselling Association Inc
George Street Neighbourhood Centre Association Inc
Lifeline Community Care Queensland
Townsville Community Legal Service Inc

SA

Central Northern Primary Health Care Services – North/North East
Coober Pedy Multicultural Community Forum Inc
Northern Community Legal Service Inc
UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide Inc
UnitingCare Wesley Bowden Inc

TAS

Anglicare Tasmania Inc

VIC

Anglicare Victoria
Bass Coast Regional Health
Bendigo Community Health Services Inc
Berry Street Victoria Inc
Casey Cardinia Community Legal Service Inc
Djerriwarrh Health Services
FMC Relationship Services
Footscray Community Legal Centre Inc
Kildonan UnitingCare

WA

City of Wanneroo
Financial Counsellors Resource Project of Western Australia Inc
Frontier Services
MIDLAS Inc