Financial Counsellor Darwin Community Legal Service Community legal and advocacy service

About DCLS

Darwin Community Legal Service (DCLS) is an innovative community-based organisation that provides a range of legal services including free legal advice and advocacy, community legal education, law reform and policy development. DCLS is committed to social justice and the protection of human rights in the Northern Territory.

About this role

This position will assist people in financial difficulty by providing information and support to help them deal with their financial problems, manage their debts, and alleviate the stress of being in financial hardship. A key responsibility is to deliver high-quality provision of information, advice, practical assistance, and referral. This role works collaboratively with all staff at DCLS.

The ideal candidate for the position will be highly professional, combining financial counselling experience with demonstrated empathy and understanding. They will value effective teamwork and have a supportive, positive approach to staff. They will be able to work under pressure, multitask, and be flexible in approaches.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Provide high level financial counselling assistance to DCLS' clients with particular focus on tenants in private rentals
• Assist clients to resolve their personal financial difficulties and access other sources of support and assistance including internal referrals within the legal service.
• Participate in interagency networks and build/maintain relationships with referring agencies, key organisations, community leaders and local people relevant to the area.
• Maintain strong professional links and cooperation with local and national financial counselling peak bodies and relevant regulators.
• Develop and facilitate Financial Literacy workshops for vulnerable people on various topics.
• Work with other staff to identify gaps, priorities and emerging needs in community information and education related to money and financial issues, and co-deliver programs and initiatives which respond to those needs.
• Participate in identifying law reform priorities relating to money and financial issues, and participate in strategies to address these.

Administration

• Maintain effective collection of relevant data and statistics, file management systems and internal quality assurance procedures consistent with the administrative systems, procedures and policies of the service.
• Assist the Management team to prepare service delivery plans and other plans and strategies as needed.
• Assist the Management team to prepare reports to funding agencies by maintaining statistics and other records as required.

General

• Undertake appropriate professional development activities to maintain and enhance the knowledge and skills required to fulfil the responsibilities of the position.
• Participate in regular staff and supervision meetings and annual performance appraisal.
• Monitor and evaluate areas of responsibility in line with performance review and DCLS' organisational planning and provide written reports as requested.
• Maintain a teamwork approach at all times.
• Other relevant duties as directed

Selection Criteria
Essential

• Current professional qualification as a financial counsellor eligible to practice in the Northern Territory, and relevant professional experience in this or a closely related field.
• Established interpersonal communication skills, including communicating with clients with empathy and reflecting constructively on DCLS practice with others.
• Sound written skills, including the ability to explain complicated financial terminology in plain language.
• Sound organisational skills and ability to manage workload, competing demands, meet deadlines and to work effectively as part of a team.
• Understanding and commitment to principles of social justice.
• Understanding of economic and social issues affecting vulnerable people in the Northern Territory, particularly remote regions.
• Personal resilience, adaptability and ability to meet the challenges of remote service delivery
• Current NT Driver's License, NT Ochre Card & Criminal History check (or the ability to obtain).

Desirable

• Experience in a community-based organisation.
• Experience in developing and delivering financial education programs.
• Experience working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) / Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.

Salary and other benefits

Current salary between NT SCHADS Award 5.1 – 5.3 depending on skills and experience.

DCLS pays above award wages, and salary packaging is available. Superannuation per legislation, six week's annual leave (or pro-rata), and excellent conditions as per DCLS Enterprise Agreement apply, including flexible working and time in lieu. DCLS is an equal opportunity employer.

Please send your application to recruitment@dcls.org.au

Applications close COB Friday 10th October 2025.

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