Financial advice for seniors on offer

A MORNING tea for seniors at Bannockburn Library early next month will also be an opportunity to provide support and advice regarding financial wellbeing.

In partnership with Cultura staff, Financial Counselling Victoria will be leading the event on Thursday 2 November between 10.30am and 11.30am.

The aim is to connect seniors to their closest free and confidential financial counselling service, at a time where the cost of living is increasing, but income may be limited.

Financial counsellors Kaye Norris and John Sheehan will be attending, and their role is to offer help, information, advocacy, and guidance to people regarding any financial hardship.

“We want older people in Victoria to feel more comfortable talking about money concerns with their friends and family, while also being empowered to stand up to financial abuse,” said FCVic executive officer Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope.

“We want them to have easy access to tools and resources that help them get the financial assistance they’re entitled to or understand how to deal with complicated systems like the Disability Support Pension.

“We want Victorian seniors to know they have a support system that includes financial counsellors who can help them with their money, especially when the cost of living is going up, and they have limited or fixed incomes.

“We also want them to know they can talk to someone if they think they’re being mistreated when it comes to their money, and that a call or meeting with a financial counsellor will always be free, confidential and non-judgemental.”

Attendees of the morning tea will be able to get a financial health check-up, find out about utility grants available to them, have any questions answered over a relaxed cuppa, and take valuable resources home with them.

The morning tea is part of FCVic’s Older and Wiser – Standing Strong program and registrations are via bit.ly/46NXiEc.