With the cost of living soaring and the holiday period approaching, many South Australian families are strapped for cash, with some forced to make decisions between buying food, paying bills, or purchasing medicine.

It can be isolating for people experiencing financial stress and hardship to manage their finances alone, which is where AnglicareSA’s financial counselling services can help.

 

AnglicareSA’s Financial Counselling Services

Completely confidential, free, and offered over the phone or face-to-face, our financial counsellors provide information and options to people about their financial situation and, if needed, advocacy.

In the 2023-2024 financial year, our services assisted 2,718 people, and AnglicareSA financial counsellor Ali George said this number was only growing.

“The demand for financial counselling is huge, and we’re seeing an increased need for material aid as well,” she said.

Financial stress can affect people’s mental health, self-worth, and ability to function.

“It can be devastating and catastrophic to have exhausted all your funds and not see a way forward financially,” Ali said.

“People feel ashamed, which can be a barrier to seeking support.

“Managing your finances alone can be isolating, depressing, and overwhelming, with all the information and misinformation. A financial counsellor can help relieve stress and provide extra support and reassurance.”

 

Sam’s experience

Financial counselling helped Sam* get back on track financially after a coercive control relationship.

“I was struggling without a job and with my personal situation, and wanted some extra information about where I could go for help with my finances,” Sam said.

It was through attending one of AnglicareSA’s financial wellbeing and literacy sessions Sam met Ali.

“I did not know much about financial counselling, and was a bit nervous initially,” Sam said.

“But once I started talking to Ali, I felt very comfortable. She showed interest and listened.

“That was the first time I had opened up and I got some hope.”

After that initial meeting, Ali provided Sam with a referral for food bank vouchers and a metro card, and information about Centrelink eligibility, Government concessions, and job providers they could contact.

Sam said this information empowered them with knowledge they could use to continue managing their finances.

“I started searching on the internet about options available to me,” Sam said.

“I am in a much better position now.”

Ali said just having the right information and learning to focus on your finances could make a huge difference.

“Baby steps are still steps,” she said.

“You can take a tiny step to find an alternative to going into more debt, and while that hasn’t fixed everything for you, you’ve developed a new skill, learned new information, and made new connections through that process. When you build on that over time, it does end up making a huge difference.”

*Name changed for privacy.

Help us help others

AnglicareSA’s Emergency Assistance and financial counselling services would not be able to help as many people experiencing hardship without the support of our generous donors and supporters.

The money raised from our Christmas Appeal this year will go towards funding these vital services and ensuring that people like Sam do not have to face unprecedented hardship and food insecurity on their own.

If you would like to donate to our appeal, please visit: https://anglicaresa.com.au/donate-support/christmas-appeal.

To access our financial counselling services, please contact 1800 759 707.