20,000 given hope by Cafs financial counsellors

CHILD and Family Services’s financial counselling program recently serviced its twenty-thousandth client.

Reaching the milestone at the end of October after 35 years of the program, Coordinator of financial counselling, Colin Handreck said ultimately it was “just another day at the office.”

Motivated, more than ever, to support those “just like you and I,” currently experiencing financial hardship, Mr Handreck’s team “get out of bed to help people” in a tailored way.

“The people who come to us are just going through a patch… unemployment, after an accident, a period of illness, or after severe trauma or a major incident like a relationship breakdown,” he said.

“What was happening previously for them, now doesn’t work as smoothly. We’re providing them with paralegal information and options to resolve their debts and financial dilemmas.

“In a milestone sense, it gives us cause to pause and reflect back on how many individuals, families and households have been positively impacted by the program that’s been provided as a free service, funded by the Victorian government.”

Mr Handreck said there’s one simple but meaningful thing that’s rewarding for the Cafs financial counsellors; hope.

“It’s our primary goal for people to know things can and will work out.

“That’s a non-financial outcome but, giving hope to people who are often at a very low point in their life, stabilising their position and resolving their financial circumstances is very satisfying,” he said.

Cafs recommends anyone to visit moneysmart.gov.au for tips to manage their finances, whether young or old.

The National Debt Helpline, 1800 007 007, is an anonymous hotline and initial contact for people experiencing financial hardship.