Online tool improving financial literacy

A NEW online resource is helping break down the often-complex world of money matters for people who may be experiencing financial hardship in the greater Geelong region.

The Money Talks website is designed to help community workers converse with clients about money, connect them with support services and enable them to become more financially resilient during a time when economic hardship is on the rise.

The Give Where You Live Foundation’s Kerry Farrance said the platform is a way of helping people who were at risk of sliding further into crisis due to the long wait times for specialised services.

“It can often be challenging when frontline workers are supporting clients experiencing financial hardship or crisis, to navigate the right information and know where they can access the right financial supports,” she said.

“Money Talks was created to support the skills and knowledge of frontline workers, to help them better assist people to manage their finances and gain a sense of control over their money.”

The initiative has been developed through a partnership between the Give Where You Live Foundation, Good Shepherd and the Geelong Community Foundation, to alleviate the demand on counselling and financial services and improve the economic literacy of people who are finding themselves in hardship.

The website collates resources from a wide range of organisations on a variety of topics including, financial counselling, debt repayments, mobile and internet payments, gambling, payday loans, budgeting, savings challenges, financial abuse, and tips for accessing Centrelink payments.

Ms Farrance said the last two or more years have only heightened the platforms importance.

“We’ve seen the extra pressure the Covid-19 pandemic and increased cost of living has had on the community, especially those who were already financially struggling,” she said.

“With demand for financial support services expected to continue increasing alongside rising living costs, we hope it will be an invaluable resource for community services in the G21 region.”

For more information, head to moneytalks.givewhereyoulive.com.au