Financial Counselling Service

For people who live, work or study in the City of Yarra.

The program offers specialist provision of information, education and advocacy to individuals, low-income disadvantaged families and groups who live, work or study in the municipality. It is a free, confidential service funded by Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) auspiced by the City of Yarra.

Contact the unit for information on:

• Financial & Credit related issues
• Debt management options
• budget to bankruptcy
• pro-active to remedial
• Rights and obligations
• contracts, family law, government debts & benefits, utilities, credit cards, guarantees, fines, child support, referral to emergency relief, utility relief grants etc

To prevent consumer and credit related problems, education is offered to:

• Individuals/families, in order to
• Transfer of knowledge and skills
• Increase level of client empowerment
• Service providers, in order to facilitate
• Early identification of financial issues
• Appropriate referrals
• Consumer/client groups
• Target specific groups/issues

Family Support ?  Aged Care ?  Rates? FC relationship to these services.

Money Talks

The Service provides community education programs, designed to inform people of their rights and responsibilities in relation to issues affecting their financial decision-making and responses.  The Money Talks program includes:

• 6 topic-specific sessions (delivered as a total program or individual sessions)
• Single sessions, addressing issues of general living expenses, maintaining essential services, accessing help, etc.
• ‘By request’ topics to groups

Making it work for you

The Financial Counselling Service produces the "Making it work for you" kit to facilitate self management and resilience in our community, including information sheets on material aid and housing.

These are designed to assist individuals seeking assistance as well as service providers making referrals. This avoids the "referral roundabout".

Making your own move

This booklet, designed to inform young people as they move into independence, was funded by a grant from the Lorraine Donnan Trust and produced with input from the City of Yarra Youth Services, community agencies and consultation with young people.  Contact to request copies.

Assistance with education costs for low income families

If you are struggling to meet the costs of your child’s state school education, there is help available as well as practical things you can do to help cope with the financial stress. The Education Costs Kit explains what charges you can expect; which fees are not compulsory; what you can do to get assistance and how you can make school expenses manageable.

If you require a printed copy of the Education Costs Kit or if you require financial counselling assistance, please contact Council on 9205 5491.

---

Further information

Financial Counselling Service
Collingwood Town Hall

Telephone 9205 5491
Email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Links

Within this site
Yarra City Councl

Information supplied by: Electronic communications & design officer - 9205 5214

---