Financial Counsellor

MA MISSION AUSTRALIA; Lismore; On-site; AUD 57,000 - 82,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Not-for-profit salary packaging

Salary packaging via AccessPay

Confidential counselling services

Volunteering opportunities

Extra annual leave options

Job summary

Mission Australia is seeking a Financial Counsellor to support individuals and families across the North Coast NSW. The role offers 14–21 hours per week, on-site in Lismore, with a competitive hourly rate and benefits for not-for-profit staff.

You will deliver confidential counselling, advocacy, and education, helping clients understand options, resolve issues, and build financial resilience in a compassionate, non-judgemental environment.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Financial Counselling with FCAN membership.
• Experience in financial counselling or in a financial services organisation.
• Knowledge of debt, bankruptcy and consumer credit laws.
• Eligible to work in NSW and able to pass background checks.

Responsibilities

• Provide face-to-face and telephone financial counselling to individuals and families.
• Advocate and negotiate on behalf of clients with agencies and lenders.
• Liaise with financial institutions, government bodies and ombudsman to resolve issues.
• Arrange referrals to services as needed for clients.
• Build empathetic, professional relationships with clients.
• Educate clients about financial rights and responsibilities.
• Facilitate community education on financial hardship and problem gambling.
• Co-facilitate sessions with gambling counsellors where appropriate.
• Support community awareness initiatives on gambling-related issues.
• Maintain accurate records and complete reports for management.

Skills

Counselling

Advocacy

Communication

Education

Diploma in Financial Counselling

Associate/Accredited FCAN Membership

Current NSW Driver's Licence

Job description

Permanent Opportunity 14 to 21 Hours per week $50.58 per hour + Super + Not for Profit Salary Packaging Location: Lismore NSW 2480 Make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians in need!

Life at Mission Australia

When you join the team at Mission Australia, you become part of a community who are determined to end homelessness and ensure people in need can thrive. United by our Christian purpose and values, we advocate for a fairer Australia, to meet the growing needs of people across the country. Together we’re building hope and possibility for all. Find out more about us and our purpose.

Your Opportunity

Are you passionate about helping people regain control of their finances and build a stable future? Join our Financial Counselling Service, a free and confidential program supporting individuals and families experiencing financial hardship, including issues related to problem gambling. We’re looking for a Financial Counsellor who can provide compassionate, practical support across the North Coast NSW through online, phone, and face‑to‑face services. In this role, you’ll help clients understand their financial options, resolve financial problems, and build long‑term financial capability. You’ll work with a diverse client base, providing counselling, advocacy, and education to support financial wellbeing.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Provide face to face and telephone financial counselling to individual clients and families.
• Advocate and negotiate on behalf of clients
• Liaise with financial institutions, government bodies and ombudsman to resolve issues.
• Arrange appropriate referrals for clients within the service or to other services as required.
• Build caring, supportive and professional relationships with clients.
• Educate clients about their financial rights and responsibilities
• Facilitate community education sessions on financial hardship and problem gambling
• Co‑facilitate sessions with therapeutic gambling counsellors where appropriate
• Support community awareness initiatives on problem gambling
• Keep accurate records and comprehensive database entries.
• Undertake quantitative and qualitative reporting to the organisation’s management team

Requirements for Success

• Diploma in Financial Counselling and Associate or Accredited Membership with FCAN.
• Previous experience in financial counselling or a financial services organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in financial assessment and provide financial counselling.
• Sound knowledge of the relevant legislation and information pertaining to financial issues including current debt practices, bankruptcy legislation and consumer credit law
• A current NSW Drivers Licence
• Confident presenting on financial and gambling‑related issues
• Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people.

Your benefits

• Rewarding work – every day you know you’re making a real difference
• Not‑for‑profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay)
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support
• Volunteering opportunities
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Extra leave including: Mission Australia Thank You Day & Work Anniversary Day off

Our culture

Our innovative and inclusive culture will ensure you feel valued at Mission Australia as you help Australians in need and develop in your career. We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone, both within our team and the individuals we serve. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible.

So, whoever you are, if you’re skilled and actively support our purpose and values, you would be welcome at Mission Australia.

If you live with disability and require support to submit your application, please email [e-mail] or visit our Careers page for additional contact details.

We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

For culturally safe support or assistance with your application, please contact us at [e-mail]

Find out more about a career with Mission Australia.

Mission Australia is a national Christian charity motivated by a shared vision of an Australia where everyone has a safe home and can thrive. Since 1859, we’ve been standing alongside people in need across Australia, offering real hope that has lasting impact. Backed by our supporters, churches, partners, and funders, we work together for the long‑term wellbeing of anyone who needs us, reflecting our values of respect, compassion, integrity, perseverance and celebration. We collaborate with people experiencing homelessness or disadvantage to tackle the root causes of their challenges through providing access to safe, affordable homes and innovative, evidence-based support services. Every day we deliver homelessness crisis and prevention services, provide social and affordable housing, assist struggling families and children, address mental health issues, fight substance dependencies, support people with disability and much more. Mission Australia believes a person’s circumstances shouldn’t define their future and that given the right support, everyone can reach their full potential. That’s why we stand together with Australians in need, until they can stand for themselves. Learn more about Mission Australia and our purpose.