Financial Counsellor

Financial Counsellor

• Support women experiencing family violence through trauma-informed financial counselling and advocacy
• Deepen professional expertise and influence systemic change by engaging in policy advocacy, community education and sector networks
• Fixed-term contract until June 2028

This role delivers comprehensive financial counselling and advocacy to clients, coordinates referrals to support services, and drives systemic change through policy advocacy and community engagement.

Our client Barwon Community Legal Service is a community legal centre that provides free legal information, advice, and casework to members of the local community, with a culture of supportiveness, positive change, integrity and empathy.  The successful applicant will have proven expertise in delivering client-focused financial counselling and advocacy, strong analytical and negotiation skills, and the ability to build stakeholder partnerships and drive systemic change through policy advocacy and community education. Please note that this is a fixed-term position ending in June 2028.

What you will do:

You will deliver client-focused financial counselling and case management—assessing needs, developing action plans, and advocating with creditors—while supporting women impacted by family violence. You'll coordinate referrals to legal, community, and welfare services, and provide follow-up support. Working as part of the Safe at Home response, you'll collaborate with lawyers and intake staff to ensure integrated service delivery. You'll also lead community education initiatives, engage sector networks, and contribute to policy advocacy informed by frontline insights.

This role is responsible for:

• Provide trauma-informed financial counselling and case management to women experiencing family violence
• Collaborate with lawyers and intake staff to deliver integrated support under the Safe at Home response
• Coordinate referrals and follow-up support across legal, welfare, and community services
• Develop and deliver community education resources and workshops to promote financial literacy
• Identify systemic issues from client work and contribute to advocacy and reform initiatives
• Manage data collection and reporting to support strategic planning and demonstrate impact

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Empathetic and trauma-informed, engaging clients with sensitivity and respect
• Analytical and solution-focused, adept at assessing complex financial situations and negotiating effective outcomes
• Committed to social justice and systemic advocacy, working to advance equity and inclusion
• Clear and persuasive communicator, skilled at translating complex financial and legal information for diverse audiences
• Proactive and resilient, organized under pressure and capable of collaborating across teams and stakeholder networks

What we are looking for:

• Demonstrated track record in delivering client-focused financial counselling and advocacy, including skill-building and negotiated outcomes
• Deep expertise in credit, debt and hardship issues, with a trauma-informed approach to working with clients experiencing family violence
• Ability to build and leverage referral networks and stakeholder partnerships across legal, community and welfare sectors
• Proven experience in community education and policy advocacy, translating frontline insights into systemic change initiatives
• Strong data-driven mindset, capable of managing service reporting, preparing case studies and using insights to inform strategic planning

How to apply:

If you would like more information about this exciting role, please email

We look forward to receiving your application.

BCLS is committed to child safety. We have zero tolerance of child abuse.

BCLS is an inclusive employer. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people with culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Please note:

1. We respectfully ask you do not contact Barwon Community Legal Servicedirectly so they can attend to their daily workload.

2. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted throughout the recruitment campaign.