Financial Counselling is a free confidential service to persons in financial difficulty.
The aim of Financial Counselling is to empower the individual to appropriately deal with their own financial situation through provision of options, rights and responsibilities.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Financial Counselling your personal issues must not be in relation to an ABN. If you have an ABN or have used one in the last five years, either contact your accountant or your creditors directly. However, at the discretion of the Financial Counsellor, assistance may be provided to Sole Traders for their personal debt only.
Financial Counselling is short term assistance only. Up to three sessions are available following an initial consultation. Further assistance can only be provided in extreme circumstances.
Financial Counselling Process:
The Financial Counselling process may include an analysis of income/expenditure and discussion of options followed by initiation of an action plan and strategies in regard to:
- Budgeting
- Debt Consolidation
- Financial hardship arrangements with creditors
- Debt agreements
- Legal action from Creditors
- Bankruptcy
Advocacy
In cases of extreme hardship, advocacy may be available. However, availability of this service is at the discretion of the Financial Counsellor and is dictated by resources available at the time.
Information and services:
Financial Counselling is currently provided out of the Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre - 16 Third Avenue Palm Beach.
Commencing August 2009, outreach services may extend to Gold Coast Northern suburbs.
For an appointment call 5598 1505 between 9am and 4pm.
The Commonwealth Financial Counselling Service is funded by the Australian Government Department of Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs in addition to the Queensland Department of Communities.