Financial counselling
- St Albans financial counselling
- Mornington Peninsula financial counselling
- South East Water customers financial counselling
What is financial counselling?
Financial counselling is a free and confidential service for people going through financial hardship and those who are concerned about how to pay bills and debts. Financial counsellors offer information and support to help people get on top of their financial difficulties. This may take place face to face at our offices or by telephone. Our financial counsellors also undertake community education through activities like group information sessions.
Please note - financial counsellors are not financial advisors and we do not give investment advice.
Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service offers financial counselling through our sites in St Albans and the Mornington Peninsula. We also work in partnership to provide financial counselling to customers of South East Water at a number of sites across the south east .
Who can use financial counselling?
Financial counselling is for people on low incomes, Centrelink benefits or government pensions.
Financial counseling can help people going through the following circumstances:
- struggling to pay bills, rent, mortgage and/or fines
- falling behind with repayments on loans, credit cards or other debts
- reduced income due to sickness, injury or unemployment
- unable to pay for repairs or replacement of essential items such as a fridge or hot water service
- left with bills and expenses after separating from a partner or when someone has moved out of home
- struggling with setting up a new home after fleeing from domestic violence.
Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service financial counselling programs are available across various Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula locations.
What does financial counselling offer?
- Information on your options in relation to outstanding bills, debts and fines
- negotiation on your behalf with those seeking payment
- information about loans, including no interest and low interest loans with manageable repayments
- information and assistance to access schemes for people in financial hardship, such as the Utility Relief Grant Scheme
- information and assistance relating to bankruptcy and other legal processes for credit/debt matters
- advice on making and keeping to a budget and on making your money stretch further. This includes helping to arrange automatic deductions from Centrelink payments using the Centrepay bill payment service
- referral to other organisations that may be able to help.
How can I find out more about financial counselling?
Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service offer financial counselling through our St Albans and Mornington Peninsula sites and to South East Water customers at various locations.
To find out about financial counselling services in other areas of Victoria and for free financial counseling over the phone contact Money Help on 1800 149 689 or visit: www.moneyhelp.org.au
St Albans financial counselling
This program is for City of Brimbank residents, which includes the suburbs of Sunshine, St Albans, Keilor, Sydenham, Deer Park. View list of areas covered within the City of Brimbank.
Contact:
Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service
354 Main Road West
St Albans Vic 3021
T: 03 8312 8800
Mornington Peninsula financial counselling
This program is for Mornington Peninsula Shire residents, which includes Dromana, Flinders, Hastings, Mornington, Mt. Eliza, Rosebud, Rye, Somerville and Tootgarook.
Contact:
Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service
1 Church Street
Hastings VIC 3915
T: 03 59 705 705
South East Water customers financial counselling
We work in partnership with South East Water to provide financial counselling to customers experiencing hardship. This service is available at various locations across the South East including Dandenong, Frankston, Heatherton and St Kilda.
Phone: 1800 999 712 for an appointment.
Download our financial counselling brochure for South East Water Customers (PDF 328.4 KB).