Preparing for your first meeting
What can my financial counsellor do for me?
Depending on your circumstances, your financial counsellor can:
- help you assess your financial situation
- provide information about credit and debt issues
- design a personal money management plan
- provide options for change / improvement in your everyday living
- provide referral to other services as required (e.g. other counselling etc )
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Bring the following to your first appointment with your financial counsellor:
- Identification, such as:
- Centrelink card
- Australian Driver’s License
- Medicare card
- Agent rental agreement or mortgage statement
- Income Information
- Centrelink Income statement (most recent listing all deductions if applicable)
- Payslips – the most recent 3 as a minimum for each job
- Bank Statements (3 months) for all of your bank accounts.
- Other Income (e.g. cash economy)
- Expense Information
- Rental notice (payments) / or bank mortgage loan statement
- Electricity / Gas Bills / Water
- Council rates
- Internet and home/mobile phone accounts / pay TV – e.g., Netflix
- Credit card statements
- Other existing usage of credit such as pay later, pay day loans.
- Other loans (e.g., car, rent to buy,)
- Outstanding fines
- Grocery bill (estimate)
- Any other expenses not already listed
- Additional Information
- Medical treatment / medications ( any documentation relevant to your health from your doctor or specialist)
What will happen at my appointment?
Your first appointment may take up to two hours. In it, your financial counsellor will work with you to:
- Produce a comprehensive statement of your financial position .
- Review a list of options open to you.
Why is the service free?
Bridging the Gap receives government funding to deliver the service free of charge to those who need it.
What if I can’t attend my appointment?
If you cant attend your appointment, contact Bridging the Gap as soon as possible. We have reserved the time for you and if you cannot attend let us know so we can use the time to helping someone else who is in need.
Repeated occasions of failing to attend, without notifying us in advance, will result in us declining to book future appointment for you with us.
What advice can my financial counsellor provide?
Your financial counsellor can assist you with:
- Personal financial matters, or matters relating to your business as a sole trader.
- Understand your situation and provide you options to move forwards. This will be explained in your first meeting.
Your financial counsellor cannot provide you with:
- Legal advice.
- Specific recommendations of financial products or services.
- Advice relating to your PTY LTD business.
Where do I go if I have a complaint?
Refer to the linked Financial Counselling Australia information brochure.
How Can We Help You?
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