Council is pleased to welcome South East Community Links to the Civic Centre in Officer, as they expand their services to offer free and confidential financial counselling appointments for residents.
SECL receives Federal and State Government funding to deliver a wide range of services aimed at improving social and economic outcomes. Their support programs across the southeast region span emergency relief, housing and homelessness support, employment pathways, financial wellbeing, family violence assistance, youth engagement and refugee settlement services.
In Cardinia Shire, SECL plays a critical role in supporting financial wellbeing. As one of only two key agencies funded to provide free financial counselling services locally, their presence is vital for residents experiencing financial hardship.
Since commencing operations from the Civic Centre, SECL has supported:
- 90 clients
- 972 financial counselling sessions (including face-to-face, online, and phone support)
- 49 cases closed, with $1 million in debt resolved through financial counsellor advocacy
This is in addition to the highly successful annual Bring Your Bills Day, which helped resolve more than $2.4 million in debt for over 450 community members in a single day.
"The expansion of SECL's services at the Civic Centre is fantastic, particularly given Cardinia Shire remains a services desert. It strengthens our continued commitment to support the wellbeing of our community with services close to home" said Cardinia Shire Council Mayor, Cr Jack Kowarzik.
"This partnership provides greater access to essential support for individuals experiencing financial hardship and we're proud to work alongside SECL to ensure our residents can connect with the help they need within Cardinia Shire, and don't have to travel to Dandenong or further."
SECL's financial counsellors can assist individuals to:
- Understand their overall financial situation
- Confirm whether debts are legally owed
- Identify priority debts
- Explore options and make informed decisions
- Set goals to resolve financial difficulty and plan for the future
- Advocate, negotiate, and provide support
- Inform clients of their rights
- Provide referrals to other support services
