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About Financial Counselling

Financial Counsellors are here to help

Financial Counselling is a free, independent and confidential service provided by qualified professionals to help Australians facing financial hardship. Thousands of Australians benefit from financial counselling services every year.

Financial counsellors provide practical support and advice to help individuals, families, and small businesses. Support includes budgeting, understanding rights and negotiating with creditors. Financial counsellors also advocate for fairer systems and improved access to financial support for everyone.

In WA, financial counsellors are accredited by the Financial Counselling Western Australia.

A financial counsellor can:

  • advise and assist with debt problems, or disputes with banks, utility providers, insurers, telecommunications.
  • help you develop a plan for your financial goals and debt management.
  • determine whether you have been sold products or signed up for loans that are unsuitable.
  • discuss financial hardship programs, concessions and money-saving resources.
  • help you understand what entitlements or grants you are eligible for.
  • advocate or equip you to negotiate with lenders/debt collectors.
  • make referrals to other professionals where appropriate for your situation, such as to community legal services, therapeutic counselling, or family violence services.
  • provide information about consumer rights.

A financial counsellor does not:

  • lend money
  • provide material aid
  • recommend any kinds of loan products
  • do tax returns
  • provide debt consolidation services
  • provide financial product advice, or
  • deal with investments
What is a financial counsellor?
A financial counsellor is a qualified professional who provides information, advice and advocacy to people in financial hardship throughout WA. The service is non-judgmental, free, independent and confidential.

No, the services provided are quite different.

A financial planner or adviser provides fee-based, investment advice.

A financial counsellor works with people who are in debt or are not able to meet their ongoing expenses.

Financial counselling is always 100% free.

Financial counsellors work under credit licence and financial services licence exemptions which, along with professional body standards, requires financial counselling services to be free of charge, without remuneration, independent (free from conflicts), non-judgemental, and confidential.

You can search for a financial counsellor or call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 to make an appointment.

Financial counsellors receive specialised training to deal with a range of issues, including matters relating to:

  • credit law and consumer rights
  • debt and debt enforcement
  • family violence and economic abuse, including elder abuse
  • gambling related harm, both for the gambler and family members
  • bankruptcy
  • insurance
  • fines and infringements
  • external dispute resolution schemes
  • disasters
  • small business issues

To make the most of your appointment with a financial counsellor, it’s helpful to bring the following.

  • An approximate balance of your outstanding bills/bills.
  • How much you pay in regular expenses like housing costs, petrol, food, insurance etc.
  • Any income you earn.
  • Current bank statements if you have some.
  • Urgent bills or letters about legal action.
  • Copies of contracts for any loans you have.
You may need to see the financial counsellor on more than one occasion, depending on the support and assistance you need. There is no charge for any session.

Financial counselling is available to anyone who is experiencing, or at risk of, financial difficulty. If you or someone you know has a debt or bill that they are worried about, they could benefit from a confidential appointment with a financial counsellor.

There are no access restrictions based on income source, visa-status or residency-status.

In order to work as a financial counsellor in Australia you must:

  • complete the required qualification (Diploma of Financial Counselling)
  • be eligible for membership of a State or Territory-based financial counselling association
  • complete the required amount of professional development annually
  • receive professional supervision

Learn more about financial counselling

Find out more about how a financial counsellor can support you and explore other useful resources.

Find Out More