Financial Counselling

Blogs

Midlas: Empowering Western Australians through holistic financial and legal support
ByFWC June 23, 2025September 16, 2025

Midlas is dedicated to providing inclusive, accessible, and culturally appropriate community and legal services tailored to individuals, families, and communities across Western Australia. Their holistic approach supports people experiencing financial hardship, domestic and family violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect, and the risk of homelessness. Beyond immediate assistance, Midlas focuses on building resilience, ensuring access to safety…

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Blogs

How family law changes in WA offer hope for victim-survivors
ByFWC June 10, 2025November 17, 2025

Financial abuse is one of the most damaging and often invisible forms of family violence. It happens when someone uses money or control over finances to trap, intimidate, or isolate their partner. This might look like being denied access to your own bank account, being forced into debt, or having your ability to work or…

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Client Stories

Anthea’s story – housing insecurity has moved her family hundreds of kilometres away
ByFWC March 11, 2025June 6, 2025

Anthea and her three children were living in Yanchep when an investor bought the four bedroom house she was renting and upped her rent by $100 per week. This was not the first rent increase for Anthea and her family. During the 18 months they were living in the home, it had sold twice and…

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Blogs

The Cost of Living Crisis: A call to action for a stronger, more resilient community
ByFWC March 11, 2025September 8, 2025

As we enter 2025, Australia continues to grapple with an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis that is pushing individuals and families to the brink. Essentials like safe housing, food security, and basic utilities are becoming increasingly out of reach for many. At The Spiers Centre in Perth’s northern suburbs, we see the human impact of these challenges every day—and we know that real solutions require a collective effort.

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News

Financial Wellbeing Collective Wins 2024 IPAA WA Excellence Award in the Not-for-Profit Sector
ByFWC January 15, 2025March 11, 2025

The Financial Wellbeing Collective has taken out the 2024 Business News Excellence in the Not-for-Profit Sector Award at the recent Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) WA Achievement Awards, recognising the Collective’s innovative approach and dedication to improving the financial wellbeing of Western Australians. Established in 2015 in response to the state government’s decision to…

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Blogs

Financial abuse: an insidious form of control
ByFWC December 9, 2024July 4, 2025

As a woman in her sixties, she felt she should have known better. As a lawyer she felt she should have recognised the signs. But for Shelley, her experience of financial abuse – like for so many other victim-survivors – were controlling behaviours that started subtly and progressed over time inflicted by her perpetrator. That’s…

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Client Stories

Kylie’s story – bouncing back from rock bottom
ByClare Ross November 18, 2024November 18, 2024

As a single mother and primary carer of three children for some time, Kylie had always been able to financially get by. However, the rising cost of living over the last few years has propelled Kylie and her family into financial hardship. Every time a bill arrives, Kylie experiences anxiety knowing she will need to…

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News

New report sheds light into the experiences of hardship in WA
ByClare Ross November 18, 2024November 18, 2024

The Financial Wellbeing Collective, the largest service provider network of financial hardship programs in Western Australia, has released a first-of-its-kind report detailing the experiences of financial, food and utility stress in the state. Using data from the 29,000 Western Australians who accessed the Financial Wellbeing Collective’s hardship crisis interventions services in FY 23/24, The Financial…

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News

Rates of homelessness double among financial counselling clients
ByFWC August 26, 2024September 10, 2024

On the eve of Homelessness Week, WAs largest collective of financial counsellors reports client rates of homelessness doubling in the last 5 years. 4% of the Financial Wellbeing Collective’s financial counselling clients are experiencing homelessness, while a further 8% are at imminent risk of homelessness, with both rates doubling since 2019. Mostly affected are women….

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Blogs

No room for shame in hardship
ByFWC June 20, 2024September 6, 2024

When I was 14, my Dad died suddenly after a 3 month struggle with Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukaemia. My mum, a widow at 36, was now the sole carer and provider for a 7 month old, a 3 year old and a teenager. With Dad’s death and no paid maternity leave, our family had no income….

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News

Financial counsellors invaluable in cost of living crisis
ByFWC March 30, 2024September 6, 2024

With the cost of living burden far-reaching across society, Financial Counsellors are assisting new and emerging clientele experiencing financial strain, including higher income households. Price increases to essential commodities including housing, groceries, petrol and utilities has fueled a cost of living crisis that has made the role of a Financial Counsellor imperative. Serving those in…

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News

A united effort in tackling financial hardship and wellbeing
ByFWC February 28, 2024September 6, 2024

At a time when cost of living pressures are hitting hard, an industry leading collaborative network of not for profit organisations, government and corporates are working together to help build financial resilience and wellbeing in the Western Australian community. The Financial Wellbeing Collective is powered by 12 partner organisations all united in its mission to…

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