Applications close 26 January.
The Financial Counsellor role will sit within the multidisciplinary Regional, Rural and Remote (RRR) Team providing legal and social support services to women in identified target communities.
WLSQ is looking to expand our reach into regional, rural and remote regions of Queensland in recognition of the unique vulnerabilities women in these communities experience, the scarcity of services and the distance women must travel to access domestic and family violence services.
The RRR Outreach Program is a pilot project and will include a solicitor, social worker, financial counsellor and community legal education officer who will work collaboratively to provide integrated and holistic services that address a range of legal, financial, welfare and safety needs for women impacted by domestic and family violence in RRR areas.
The RRR team will travel on a rotating basis to high-need RRR regions across Queensland to deliver legal and social support advice clinics. The RRR team will also deliver community education workshops for community service providers (including police and key referral agencies) to increase their knowledge and understanding of domestic and family violence and the support available to women.
The team will be responsible for providing face to face and phone appointments in relation to legal and financial assistance, safety planning, practical welfare advice and case work management where appropriate.
The Financial Counsellor role will also sit within the Financial Abuse Prevention Unit at WLSQ made up of a Financial Counsellor and Financial Capability Workers. The Financial Counsellor is responsible for providing high quality information, advice, advocacy and practical assistance to resolve or alleviate financial stress and improve the financial capability of women who are victim survivors of domestic and family violence.
About This Role
Key Responsibilities:
a. Undertaking the delivery of WLSQ financial counselling services to WLSQ clients at outreach clinics in RRR priority communities in accordance with WLSQ policy and requirements including:
- Providing high quality financial counselling support and casework to clients particularly from a domestic and family violence (financial abuse) perspective, including at outreach clinics in RRR communities.
- Building rapport with clients and help them to understand their financial rights and working closely with clients, advocating on their behalf with creditors and service providers in order to reduce or alleviate debt.
- Providing information about debt options for clients in financial hardship.
- Assisting clients to access a range of entitlements and resources to improve their ability to manage their financial affairs.
- Building financial resilience with clients by working with them to improve their financial standing and empower them to develop strategies to achieve financial independence
- Assisting clients to safeguard themselves from financial abuse and if necessary improve their relationship with money.
- Maintaining detailed and accurate client records and documentation.
- Fostering a collaborative team culture for staff and volunteers which is professional, productive, supportive and consistent with the WLSQ values and feminist principles.
- Travel to RRR outreach locations will be required at a minimum of one week every month to provide legal advice and assistance at outreach clinics; Travel between our offices at Annerley, Caboolture, Southport, Ipswich, Brisbane CBD may also be required.
- Work outside office hours, including weekends will be required from time to time
- Any other reasonable tasks as requested the Practice Director – Social Work.
b. Development and delivery of community legal education in relation to financial counselling and in particular financial hardship, financial abuse and domestic violence, for employees, volunteers and external stakeholders including in RRR priority communities:
- Contributing to the development of appropriate CLE material.
- Contributing to law reform activities of WLSQ as required.
SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES:
- A minimum of 3 years’ experience in providing financial counselling to vulnerable clients.
- Thorough knowledge of the types of financial counselling interventions, information, advocacy and support appropriate for clients affected by domestic and family violence and an ability to prioritise client safety in advice, strategies and interventions.
- Experience and understanding of contemporary practice in casework, referral and advocacy with clients and an ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary professional team.
- Excellent knowledge of relevant State and Federal credit, debt and social security legislation and knowledge of domestic violence legislation is desirable.
- Ability to communicate effectively and work sensitively with clients from diverse backgrounds including vulnerable clients:
- Who may have experienced domestic violence and/or trauma.
- With a disability.
- From culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; and/or
- From Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to liaise and negotiate with government and non-government organisations, institutions and community groups.
- High level of knowledge of referrals that are appropriate for women who have experienced domestic violence and financial abuse.
- Well-developed relationship management and interpersonal communication skills including the ability to engage with a range of audiences and stakeholders internal and external to WLSQ with the ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary environment.
- Sound knowledge and understanding of legal and social issues affecting women, particularly the gendered nature of domestic violence.
- Ability to provide community legal education activities where relevant to community agencies and other stakeholders.
- Ability to work under pressure, to set work priorities and to meet competing and tight deadlines.
- Demonstrated a commitment to working for a community organisation within a feminist framework in a manner consistent with the mission, purpose and values of WLSQ.
- It is a genuine occupational requirement for this position that the incumbent be a woman (section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld)).