- Cook Labor Government continuing support for financial counselling services with $3 million in additional funding as part of 2025-26 State Budget
- Support follows uplift to financial counselling services in 2024-25 Mid-Year Review
- Financial counselling services provide vital supports for those facing financial hardship
- Uplift will support 17 community organisations to provide financial counselling services across Western Australia
The Cook Labor Government is continuing to provide meaningful cost-of-living relief for Western Australians thanks to a $3 million funding uplift for community organisations providing financial counselling services.
Financial counselling services provide invaluable support for people experiencing financial hardship by helping clients maintain connections to utilities, remain in housing, access assistance payments and empowering them to avoid a more severe financial situation.
Nearly 10,800 Western Australians accessed a financial counselling service in the 2023-2024 financial year.
A total of $1.4 million was provided to support financial counselling services in the 2024-2025 Mid-Year Review, which included an uplift of approximately 15 per cent to support cost-of-living relief.
This increase will be continued with an additional $3 million over the next two financial years.
The uplift in funding will support 17 community organisations to provide financial counselling services across Western Australia.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"We know that every dollar counts for people facing cost of living pressures.
"That's why I'm proud to announce that as part of the upcoming State Budget, we will continue to uplift financial counselling services through a new $3 million investment over two years.
"This will help more Western Australians sort out their household bills and plan for their future, at no cost to them.
"I acknowledge the advocacy of WACOSS and Financial Counselling WA on this issue.
"This cost-of-living measure will give more people the resources they need to sort out their debts and make sure their rent gets paid."
As stated by Community Services Minister Matthew Swinbourn:
"Each day, financial counselling services are providing life changing support to Western Australians experiencing financial hardship.
"This $3 million uplift will give these services additional support over the next two financial years to ensure that they continue to make a meaningful difference in our community.
"This is just one of many ways that the State Government is providing cost-of-living relief for Western Australians facing hardship."
