Carer Professionals
We welcome colleagues from carer advice and support services to our Carer Professionals page.
Carers often report financial stress. Indeed, Victorian carers responding to the Carers Australia National Survey 2022 reported that:
Working from about 100 locations throughout Victoria, financial counsellors can assist people who are experiencing financial difficulty or who have problems with debt. More about the program…
These resources are designed to help you to identify and assist a carer who may be experiencing financial difficulty or hardship.
Financial Conversation Leader: Self-guided training
Unpaid carers are often experiencing financial hardship or may be financially vulnerable due to the complexities of dealing with their finances in the context of their caring role. For carer professionals, these conversations that can be difficult to navigate. This is particularly true for conversations about money, or financial difficulty.
The Financial Conversation Leader session is designed to assist carer professionals to feel confident in addressing concerns around money, to provide helpful resources, promote the work of financial counsellors in your local area, and provide links and ongoing connection to relevant local services.
On completion of this session participants will be able to –
Simply click the ‘Book now’ button and fill in your details – we will be in touch.
Remember – financial counselling assistance is always free, confidential and independent. There are no visa restrictions and interpreters are available.
Carer Professionals resources are provided below for your download and use.
A resource to help you identify carers who are experiencing financial stress and, where appropriate, make a warm referral through the dedicated Carer Pathway to Financial Counselling. The guide also helps you to have gentle and productive conversations about money with your carer clients.
Free programs to help carers learn more about managing the household finances – this guide helps carers choose a program that best suits their needs and preferred learning style.
Financial Conversation Leader Factsheets
A series of factsheets is provided to support your learning and for you to share directly, or tailor, to support community members.
For community use:
A collection of 10 factsheets, each of which provides a brief and practical overview of a financial service or support. Every factsheet is also accompanied by a short video, which has been translated into 10 languages.
Guidance for organisations who would like to establish a financial counselling clinic within their setting.
A webpage detailing additional resources for older Victorians and people who work with them
Hear about how financial counsellors can work alongside you and help you sort out your money problems...
If you have any questions about the program or the above resources, please feel free to contact us.
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Financial counsellors are qualified professionals providing free, confidential and independent support and advocacy to individuals experiencing financial hardship. Their work is person-centred and strengths-based; they listen to the participant’s story and help with options that respond to their needs and preferences. By identifying options, the financial counsellor empowers the participant to make better choices and improve their situation.
Financial counsellors mostly operate from non-profit agencies and work under credit licence and financial services licence exemptions which permit them to access financial information and negotiate with creditors on the participant’s behalf (with their consent). Practical assistance of this kind is of great value in resolving confusion and relieving participants’ stress.
Financial Counselling Victoria (FCVic) is the peak body for all financial counsellors operating in Victoria.
FCVic acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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Not a member? Click here to learn more about FCVic membership.