Financial Counselling
Connecting Home is pleased to work closely with Knowmore, which offers specialist financial counselling services to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities.
What Are Your Rights & Options?
Knowmore’s specialist financial counsellors can help mob who are thinking about applying or have applied for the:
• National Redress Scheme (NRS)
• Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme (TSGRS)
• Victorian Stolen Generations Reparations Package (VSGRP).
These payments may be treated differently to other money. If you are applying for one of these payments, it is important to understand how a lump sum may affect your situation, particularly if you receive a Centrelink payment, are living in residential Aged Care or have any debts.
If you are thinking about applying for one of these payments, or if you have accepted an offer, Knowmore’s specialist financial counsellors with the support from Connecting Home can work with you to:
• review your financial situation
• provide information on your options for any financial difficulties or unmanageable debts that you may have
• advise you about the effect the lump sum payment will have, including any impact on Centrelink benefits or Aged Care fees
• discuss ideas on how to protect and manage the money.
If you are finding it hard to pay bills, debts or fines you can be advised about your rights and options. If necessary, they can speak with lenders or creditors on your behalf.
To make the most of your payment it is important to seek assistance before you receive the money.
If you would like to speak to a financial counsellor about a redress or reparations payment and how it might affect you, please call 1800 605 762 where an intake worker will take your details and ask the financial counsellor to call you back.
You can also contact Connecting Home to find out how we can support you at (03) 8679 0777 .
You can request for your appointment to take place at Connecting home for a confidential and culturally safe space with support
Support is provided at Connecting Home’s office at:
1/10 Childs Road Epping, Victoria 3076
For further information about Financial counselling click on the following link:
https://knowmore.org.au/my-client-needs-financial-counselling-help/ .