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Financial Counselling
What is it?
Who can Access it?
How can Financial Counselling help?
Accreditation Requirements
What is Financial Counselling with Wesley Gambling?
- Financial counselling is a free service
- Financial Counselling is a confidential service
- Financial counselling begins with an assessment of the client's financial situation, in particular, the level of gambling related debt. Using a variety of strategies (for example, assisting clients to negotiate with their creditors) the aim is to establish a manageable financial situation. Wesley Gambling Counselling Service does not, however, provide funds to repay debts.
Who can access financial counselling though Wesley Gambling?
- Gamblers and their families can access this service
How can Financial Counselling help ?
A financial counsellor can:
- Assist with developing budgeting skills
- Work with you to compile a money plan to assist in managing your money better and to provide information necessary to ascertain what options you have
- Assist you to check if you are receiving all entitlements through Centrelink
- Discuss with you what options can be taken if there are debt problems
- Negotiate with creditors on your behalf. Financial counsellors are experienced in dealing with creditors and can act as advocate, negotiator or mediator on your behalf
- Provide information on what to do and what the process is in the case of a creditor recovering money through the courts (Statement of Liquidated Claim and debt recovery options)
- Liaise with Wesley Mission Legal staff for advice for our clients
- Provide information and assistance when you have overdue traffic or rail ticket fines and assist with the process if they have gone to enforcement with State Debt Recovery
- Provide explanations on rights and responsibilities when considering bankruptcy and support you through the process
- Provide follow up financial counselling.
Financial Counselling Accreditation Requirements
PREAMBLE TO THE MEMBERSHIP POLICY OF THE FINANCIAL COUNSELLOR'S ASSOCIATION OF NEW SOUTH WALES INC., (FCAN)
What is financial counselling?
Financial counselling:
- Is a free, confidential service
- Is for individuals, families, small business operators experiencing personal financial difficulties and consumers in general.
- Supports and empowers those who are experiencing financial difficulties to overcome those difficulties
- Provides short term crisis management, and assists to develop long term prevention strategies
- Includes, counselling, assessing, educating, informing, providing options, negotiating, advocating, mediating, cash flow management options, personal financial management and referral.
- Is not welfare, band aiding, rescuing or just budget preparation.
- Is designed to empower
What is a Financial Counsellor?
A Financial Counsellor has:
- Membership (Associate or Accredited) of the Financial Counsellor's Association of New South Wales (FCAN).
- The responsibility to undertake continuing training and development and professional supervision, in accordance with current requirements by FCAN.
- Personal counselling skills
- An understanding of consumer banking and financial systems
- Skills in negotiation and advocacy with creditors, government bodies and others
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, which are continually being updated.
- An ability to evaluate financial circumstances and identify options
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, including The Consumer Credit Code, Bankruptcy Act, The Fines Act and the Civil Debt Recovery Procedure.
- Knowledge of the rights of those who are disadvantaged (e.g. Centrelink benefits, Dept Housing requirements)
- A responsibility to carryout consumer education, with clients and or groups in the community.
- Appropriate referral skills, e.g. legal, welfare, other forms of counselling.
