paul was a practicing Financial Counsellor from 2008-2010. In this time he supported hundreds of clients in Launceston, George Town and the East Coast of Tasmania. From 2011-2016, paul managed the Financial Counselling service as part of his broader portfolio of Children, Family, and Community Services at Anglicare Tasmania. As senior financial counsellor, paul supported a team of Financial Counsellors to deliver the service in all corners of Tasmania. The image beside this post talks to the advocacy for lending safeguards that paul performed as part of the role.

As a financial counsellor, paul assisted people experiencing financial hardship to explore their debt options. Many clients engaged the service in financial stress. Following comprehensive assessment and support to explore their options, most left the service with a plan/resolution and feeling more positive about their future.  In many cases, clients were able to avoid legal action, set in place measures to address their financial difficulties, and most importantly, improve their physical and mental health.

paul regularly engaged with clients faced with the decision of whether to “heat or eat”. Winter heating bills were a major source of financial stress for clients. In response, Paul secured a fellowship to travel to the United Kingdom to identify strategies to address “fuel poverty” and “affordable warmth”. See the post on this study trip.

Link to National Debt Helpline. To contact a financial counsellor, call 1800 007 007.

Link to Financial Counselling Australia, the peak body for financial counsellors in Australia.