FINANCIAL COUNSELING

The ethical, professional and organisational framework

OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY

Linked in!!

Financial counselling is a profession and a community with its own set of rules and values

Australian Financial Counselling and Credit Reform

Association and State Associations

Social Security Law

Consumer Protection Laws

Common Law

ICAN

UN Human Rights Conventions

Diversity of workforce and

clients

The legal and financial systems

and processes

Interpersonal communication and counselling skills,

case work

Community programs, systems

advocacy

AFCCRA Code of conduct and

minimum practice standards

Human rights and equal opportunity

AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL COUNSELLORS AND CREDIT REFORM ASSOCIATION

Code of Conduct, Minimum Practice

Standards

Legal and financial

knowledge and competence

Professional boundaries

Duty of care, conflict free

Counsellor self-care

Social justice

Holistic approach

Empowerment

Diversity of workforce and clients

Human rights and equal opportunity

Community programs, systems advocacy

Legal and financial system and processes

Interpersonal and communication skills, case work

AFFCRA CODE OF CONDUCT AND MINIMUM STANDARDS OF CONDUCT – MAIN POINTS

•Respond to the client in a nonjudgmental manner

•.Ability to transfer knowledge and skills to client.

•Ability to transfer power and help the client develop self-determination skills.

Empowerment

•Ability to identify financial difficulties and recognize social problems and their link with financial problems

Holistic approach

•Act in an advocacy role and negotiate on behalf of the client, rather than as a mediator between the creditor and client

Social justice approach

AFCCRA CODE OF CONDUCT AND MINIMUM STANDARDS OF CONDUCT – MAIN POINTS CONTINUED

•Maintain a high standard of personal conduct in the capacity of Financial Counsellor.

•Offer the client all relevant information regarding the financial situation and ensure that the information is accurate and current.

•Ability to evaluate the financial situation and identify possible options.

Legal and financial

knowledge and competence

•Relate to the employing/auspice primarily as a Financial Counsellor.

•Ensure that the client understands the role of the Financial Counsellor as an independent advisor.

•Use file details solely for the purpose of financial counselling

Professional boundaries

•Maintain client confidentiality.

•Have no conflict of interest, or refer the client to another service if such a conflict arises.

•Ensure that regular and thorough instructions are taken and act only on client’s instructions

Duty of Care, Conflict free