Financial Counselling Australia in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Community organisation

Financial Counselling Australia

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 8554 6979

Address: 6/179 Queen Street 3000 Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au

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24.01.2022 Financial counsellors typically see an increase in calls for help after Christmas. We're issuing a warning about Buy Now Pay Later services this holiday period. Recent data from ASIC shows one in five customers miss #BNPL payments.

24.01.2022 Financial counsellors and front line welfare workers are warning a new wave of poverty is coming, as pandemic emergency supports draw to a close. Our CEO, Fiona Guthrie, and Teresa Clarke, Head of Food and Financial Assistance at Anglicare Sydney, spoke to ABC News about the calls for help their services are receiving.

22.01.2022 Despite the heartbreaking stories at the Royal Commission, the Government is pandering to the banks and planning to legalise bad banking behaviour. What can you do to help? Email your MPs and Senators! Urge them to protect safe lending practices.

22.01.2022 Genie, a financial counsellor, often works with families who are breaking up due to the stress of being unable to pay off their unaffordable loans. Their children suffer, they suffer, their extended family suffers people come to me and say they’ve lost everything, she explains. Some of her clients have even considered suicide. To help stop the #DebtDisaster, contact your local MPs and Senators. Visit debtdisaster.com.au.

21.01.2022 NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year's theme is "Always Was, Always Will Be". We acknowledge and celebrate the breadth and depth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's knowledge, achievements, experiences and stories, and connection to country. Go to https://www.naidoc.org.au/ to learn more and find a range of activities to support your local ATSI community. #NAIDOC2020 #NAIDOCWeek #NAIDOC

21.01.2022 Lynda Edwards, our Coordinator of Financial Capability Community of Practice, spoke on The Project about court proceedings concerning unconscionable conduct by Telstra against Indigenous customers. Watch from 28min.

21.01.2022 Lynda Edwards is a descendant of the Wangkumara people of far west NSW and our Coordinator of Financial Capability Community of Practice. Here she shares the artwork in our office by Torres Strait Islander artist, Altovise Twist. The piece centres on the importance of sharing stories. It speaks to communities and services having conversations and developing financial resilience. ... #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #NAIDOC2020 #NAIDOCWeek2020 #NAIDOC

19.01.2022 The Government wants to wind back responsible lending laws that protect people from exploitative lending by banks and other lenders. Together we can protect our communities from unsafe and irresponsible lending. Let’s stop this #DebtDisaster. Visit debtdisaster.com.au and tag your local MPs and Senators.

19.01.2022 Crossbench Senators, Australia's key consumer organisations are relying on you all to do the right thing and vote NO to axing our responsible lending laws. Senator Rex Patrick Senator Stirling Griff Senator Jacqui Lambie Malcolm Roberts - Pauline Hanson's One Nation Pauline Hanson's Please Explain

19.01.2022 Australia already has a massive debt problem. We have the second highest debt to income ratio in the world. Financial counsellors like Dianne fear the looming #DebtDisaster if responsible lending laws are axed. Visit debtdisaster.com.au to get involved.

19.01.2022 A vitally important article by CHOICE. This is why we can't let the Federal Government axe responsible lending laws.

19.01.2022 The Financial Counselling Australia team hope you have a fantastic festive season. We’re on break from now until January 6. Our office will be closed during this period. See you in 2021!

19.01.2022 Queensland financial counsellors are urging Senator Malcolm Roberts - Pauline Hanson's One Nation to #SaveSafeLending when the Government's Bill to scrap responsible lending laws is debated in Parliament next week. You can read our survey report, which details the views of Queensland and other financial counsellors from across the country about safe lending laws at: https://bit.ly/3sRlWiP

17.01.2022 The floods and evacuation orders in NSW and Queensland are distressing for many people. As partners of Beyond Blue, we want to share information that may be beneficial for emotional wellbeing. The Australian Psychological Society has advice about how to psychologically prepare for and recover from disasters, and Beyond Blue’s mental health professionals are available 24/7 on 1300 22 4636. For free financial advice, anyone in Australia can contact a financial counsellor at the... National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007. For more information about looking after your mental health after a disaster, visit: www.beyondblue.org.au//looking-after-yourself-after-a-disa

16.01.2022 CEO of Anglicare Tas, Dr Chris Jones, was interviewed by ABC Hobart about the Federal Government's plans to axe laws that protect consumers from irresponsible lending. Listen from the 1.45.20 mark. Consumer Action Law Centre CHOICE Australian Council of Social Service

16.01.2022 JobKeeper has ended and many people will be worried about how to manage on a reduced income. We're a not-for-profit service that helps people tackle their debt problems. Visit www.ndh.org.au/ or call 1800 007 007 to speak to a free financial counsellor.

15.01.2022 Our new report clearly shows that the telecommunications industry must improve its response to customers experiencing financial hardship. Every financial counsellor who took part in the survey said they have clients struggling to pay their telco bills. A quarter said more than 50% of their clients are struggling to pay. Mis-selling is also common, with around 80% of financial counsellors saying they have clients with debts where mis-selling has occurred.... Read the full report here: https://www.financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au//telcos-/ Consumer Action Law Centre ACCAN Australian Communications and Media Authority Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

14.01.2022 A report by the Australian Banking Association shows it’s time to immediately ban the use of credit cards for gambling. 81% of Australians believe gambling on credit cards should be restricted or banned. We call on banks to stop credit cards being used for gambling as soon as possible.

13.01.2022 The Commonwealth Bank is the first major bank to commit to a moratorium on home foreclosures, until September 2021. This is a terrific development that will give borrowers greater peace of mind.

13.01.2022 If you're wondering where the ACCC/Telstra case is at, read this article from Amy Bainbridge at ABC. The matter was in the Federal Court today for hearing. https://www.abc.net.au//court-telstra-accc-uncon/100037606

13.01.2022 One of our new year’s resolutions is to make it easier for people in financial stress to get assistance from a financial counsellor. Our sector works hard to help people get back on track financially. This work will continue in 2021, a year we expect will be very busy as Australia recovers from the COVID-19 induced recession. To see our other resolutions, visit https://www.financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au/top-five-/

13.01.2022 When #JobKeeper ends on Sunday, businesses will close and workers across Australia will be shunted into unemployment. Our CEO, Fiona Guthrie said many people would move from JobKeeper to #JobSeeker unemployment benefits and that means they’ll have a lot less money to live on. People in this situation are going to be very worried and might feel overwhelmed... We’re expecting this will lead to increased demand for financial counsellors," she said.... See the full article in The Australian for more information.

12.01.2022 When credit card interest rates are so high, it's difficult for people with credit card debt to ever see a way out. CHOICE has found that 12 credit card companies last year were charging higher rates than in 2017, with some charging more than 20%. By contrast, some home loan interest rates are now lower than 2%. Read the full article for more information.

07.01.2022 There’s growing concern that consumers are being gouged by credit card rates in excess of 20%, despite record low lending costs. We need an investigation into how banks determine the rates on credit cards. When interest rates are so high, it makes it really hard for people with credit card debt to ever see a way out.

07.01.2022 Like so many of us, Australia’s financial counsellors are happy to see the back of 2020 and are ready to welcome a new year. We’re also determined to start 2021 with consumer-driven New Year’s resolutions. The link below outlines our top five and we invite you to join the party. Visit https://www.financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au/top-five-/

05.01.2022 Financial counsellors and their clients explain how axing protections in our lending laws will hurt individuals and their families. When people start struggling to repay loans, they often try to forgo other essential expenses, such as groceries, medicine, education or heating. Save safe lending laws to stop the #DebtDisaster. Visit debtdisaster.com.au

05.01.2022 More than 120 of Australia’s leading consumer advocacy organisations, charities, community, legal and family violence organisations, unions and financial counsellors have condemned the government’s plans to axe safe lending laws. Many people are struggling financially at the moment and the last thing they need is to be loaded up with more debt, said Fiona Guthrie, CEO of Financial Counselling Australia. Let's stop the #DebtDisaster, visit debtdisaster.com.au.

02.01.2022 Financial counsellor Lody explains why it’s so important that we save safe lending laws and stop the #DebtDisaster. Financial counsellors work with people who are struggling with debt on a daily basis. They witness the devastating impact of irresponsible lending on individuals and families.

01.01.2022 Australians are losing the highest amount of money to gambling of any country in the world, prompting calls to adopt tougher regulation. The UK's national regulator, the Gambling Commission, has the power to investigate gambling operators and force them to pay back stolen money. Lauren Levin, our Director of Policy and Campaigns, says a body with similar powers is needed here.