Financial Counselling

Expert Financial Guidance Tailored to Your Needs

Metro Assist offers free one-on-one financial counselling by providing essential support and valuable insights to help you take control of your finances.

About Our Program

Metro Assist provides free one-on-one financial counselling if you are experiencing financial difficulties, are feeling overwhelmed by overdue bills and you are having difficulties understanding your finances.

Our dedicated team of financial counsellors provide personalised advice and support to help you assess your financial situation, and alleviate the burden of overwhelming debt, giving you the tools and resources needed for a secure, stable future.

How will it help?

We can provide support, and valuable information to help you effectively manage your debt and overcome the stress of financial hardship, by:

  • Helping you address your financial problems,
  • Advocating on your behalf with lending institutions,
  • Providing information to help you make better choices,
  • Helping you managing your debt, and
  • Building long-term budgeting and money management skills

Who is it for?

Financial Counselling is for you if you are:

  • Are having difficulties managing and spending your money,
  • Are behind on any rental or mortgage repayments,
  • Have received legal notice/s regarding any of your debts,
  • Are struggling to pay your credit cards or short-term loans,
  • Are wanting to manage your money better and set budgeting goals.

Where do I have to live?

Supporting Clients from Strathfield, Canada bay, Ashfield, Burwood, Canterbury, Marrickville, Leichhardt and Bankstown LGA’s.

How do I make a booking?

Please contact reception on (02) 9789 3744 or (02) 8709 0200 to make a booking to see a Financial Counsellor.

Call (02) 9789 3744
or
Call (02) 8709 0200

Financial Wellbeing Programs

No Interest Loans Scheme

Metro Assist can assist you in obtaining a no-interest loan of up to $2000 or $3000 depending on your circumstances. The NIL’s loans are interest-free, and there are no fees – ever. (*conditions apply)

Learn more

Energy Accounts Payment Assistance

You can apply for an EAPA vouchers if you are having difficulty paying your current household energy bill due to short-term financial distress or emergency. Vouchers are limited, and are sent electronically to the energy retailer.

Learn more

Financial Counselling FAQs

What does a financial counsellor actually do?

A financial counsellor supports people who are experiencing financial stress by helping them understand their rights, review their options, and prepare a clear financial position. This may involve budgeting support, communication with creditors, hardship variation requests or help with payment plans. 

Our counsellors explain pathways, outline choices and guide clients through each step. They advocate on your behalf when needed. They do not provide financial advice and they do not make decisions for lenders or other third parties.

Many people seek help when debts begin to pile up. Our financial counsellors can work with you to assess your full situation, identify priority debts and create a realistic plan that reflects your income and essential expenses. 

They can help you communicate with lenders, request payment arrangements, negotiate reduced repayments and ensure your rights are upheld when debt collectors are involved. They also help you navigate incremental payment services such as Afterpay and Zip Pay and how these can affect your budget.

It helps to bring any documents that relate to your current situation. Bills, loan statements, letters from creditors, bank statements, Centrelink information and any notices about overdue payments are useful. 

This allows your counsellor to understand your financial position and work with you to prepare next steps. Many clients also bring a list of their regular expenses so their budget can be discussed in a practical way. Phone and face to face appointments are available, so digital copies are suitable if needed.