About the Role:

• Full Time, 38hrs/Week, Maximum Term Contract until 30-06-2024
• SCHCADs Level 5, $93,860.00 per annum + Super + Salary Packaging
• Hybrid model of working from home in VIC, NSW or QLD but must be willing to travel to a Good Shepherd Site at least once a month or when required (Located in Melbourne, Marrickville, Gold Coast or Cairns)

The Financial Counsellor – family violence role funded through Financial Independence Hub (FIH) in Partnership with Commonwealth Bank of Australia and is responsible for undertaking specialist family violence financial counselling case work (telephone and face-to-face).

This role sits within Good Shepherd financial counselling Integrated Financial Counselling team and our partner financial counsellors in the development of high-quality specialist family violence practice, including the role out of the MARAM guidelines. The role will support the development of new referral pathways and best practice co-delivery with other sectors, such as family support and family violence caseworkers, and provide 1:1 casework. 

Financial counsellors provide intensive support through an in-depth phone and/or face to face assessment of a person’s financial situation, case work, advocacy, and the identification of options to address financial concerns. Financial counsellors may undertake a triage process, prioritising and referring clients to other sources of support and assistance as necessary and work closely with other services through consultation and cross referral. Financial counsellors always support the person’s fullest participation and empowerment in planning and decision-making using a trauma Informed approach.

About the Responsibilities:

• Deliver, monitor, and support the Financial Counselling Services to a range of clients with complex needs, has a comprehensive understanding of the needs and appropriate responses to people from culturally diverse and indigenous backgrounds, disabilities, and low levels of literacy.
• Understand trauma; be able to lead a conversation through a trauma informed lens and have empathy for the challenges faced by people who have experienced family violence.
• Facilitate referrals to other services as appropriate.
• Provide high quality negotiation and advocacy on behalf of clients
• Assist in team building by participating in team activities, submissions, or responses to systemic financial issues – either specific to the service or within the Financial Counselling Network.
• Regularly liaise and work in partnership with the FIH team and leadership. This could involve providing some analysis on people accessing financial counselling from FIH.
• Understand and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of national & state-based legislation and or government policies relevant to financial services and financial counselling practice and provide advice to clients in relation to resolving their financial hardship.
• Understand the different forms of information and counselling provided by the Service, and what assistance is appropriate to the individual client – telephone information; assistance in completing relevant forms; provision of face-to-face counselling or extended casework.
• Thorough understanding and application of data systems for statistics; record keeping and filing systems.
• Adhere to compliance and reporting requirements.
• Adhere to professional registration requirements

About You:

• Holds a diploma of Financial Counselling
• Has a minimum 4 years Financial Counselling experience
• Current membership with FCVic/FCA or similar body In the State of practice
• Up to date CPD and Professional Supervision record attendance
• Experience working with vulnerable and at-risk clients.
• Experience working with people who have experienced financial abuse
• Demonstrated experience in family violence financial counselling.
• Significant experience in the provision of intake, assessment, case work.
• Understanding of and experience in service provision of financial counselling, financial literacy development, advocacy, and referral
• Demonstrated understanding of the community sector
• Demonstrated understanding of family violence including financial abuse and working within the MARAM guidelines.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the application of trauma informed practice
• Experience working with diverse groups and cultures and understanding intersectionality
• Strong ethos of team collaboration
• A satisfactory Police Check
• A current Working with Children’s Check (WWCC) or state equivalent
• Proof of the right to work in Australia

About Good Shepherd:

Our 2023-2027 strategy outlines the world we want to see and our role in advancing it. We aspire for all women, girls, and families to be safe, well, strong, and connected. We strive for equity, dignity and social justice for women, girls and families by collaborating globally and acting locally, supporting our communities in Australia and New Zealand to thrive.

We want women, girls and families to live full and dignified lives, have dignified income and enjoy financial wellbeing.  We aim to provide place-based, people-centred, holistic services while working at the system level to achieve bold and audacious reform. We currently offer microfinance programs and products, financial counselling and coaching, family and domestic violence support services, family and youth programs, playgroups, education programs and community houses. These services are complemented by research and strong advocacy to address the underlying structural causes of injustice, exclusion, and inequality.