Financial Counsellor

• Permanent Opportunity
• Flexible Hours |14 to 35 hours per week
• $50.58 per hour + Super + Salary Packaging
• Flexible base location – work from your nearest community office base
• Locations: Lismore, Port Macquarie or Coffs Harbour NSW
• Make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians in need!

Life at Mission Australia

When you join the team at Mission Australia, you become part of a community who are determined to end homelessness and ensure people in need can thrive. United by our Christian purpose and values, we advocate for a fairer Australia, to meet the growing needs of people across the country. Together we’re building hope and possibility for all.

Find out more about us and our purpose.

Your Opportunity

Are you passionate about helping people regain control of their finances and build a stable future? We’re looking for Financial Counsellors who can provide compassionate, practical support across Mid North Coast and Northern NSW through online, phone, and face‑to‑face services. 

In this role, you’ll help clients understand their financial options, resolve financial problems, and build long‑term financial capability. You’ll work with a diverse client base, providing counselling, advocacy, and education to support financial wellbeing.

We welcome applicants based in any of these locations, with flexibility to work primarily within your local area. If you’re based in Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie — or surrounding North Coast areas — we strongly encourage you to apply.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Provide face to face and telephone financial counselling to individual clients and families.
• Advocate and negotiate on behalf of clients
• Liaise with financial institutions, government bodies and ombudsman to resolve issues.
• Arrange appropriate referrals for clients within the service or to other services as required.
• Build caring, supportive and professional relationships with clients.
• Educate clients about their financial rights and responsibilities
• Facilitate community education sessions on financial hardship and problem gambling
• Co-facilitate sessions with therapeutic gambling counsellors where appropriate
• Support community awareness initiatives on problem gambling
• Keep accurate records and comprehensive database entries.
• Undertake quantitative and qualitative reporting to the organisation’s management team, Financial Wellbeing Collective and other agencies as required.

Requirements for Success

• Diploma in Financial Counselling and membership of Financial Wellbeing Workers Association OR Close to completion of study
• Previous experience in financial counselling or a financial services organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in financial assessment and provide financial counselling.
• Sound knowledge of the relevant legislation and information pertaining to financial issues including current debt practices, bankruptcy legislation and consumer credit law
• A current NSW Drivers Licence
• Confident presenting on financial and gambling‑related issues
• Experience providing general counselling in a community services environment.

Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people.

Your benefits

To ensure our employees feel valued, empowered, and celebrated, we provide a range of employee benefits including:

• Rewarding work – every day you know you’re making a real difference
• Not-for-profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay)
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support
• Volunteering opportunities 
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave 
• Extra leave including: Mission Australia Thank You Day & Work Anniversary Day off

Our culture  

Our innovative and inclusive culture will ensure you feel valued at Mission Australia as you help Australians in need and develop in your career.  

We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone, both within our team and the individuals we serve.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible. So, whoever you are, if you’re skilled and actively support our purpose and values, you would be welcome at Mission Australia.

If you live with disability and require support to submit your application, please email [email protected] or visit our Careers page for additional contact details.

We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. For culturally safe support or assistance with your application, please contact us at [email protected]  

Find out more about a career with Mission Australia. 

How to apply

Click ‘Apply’ and send your application today!

As a committed Circle Back Initiative employer, we will respond to your application.

Applications are shortlisted as they are received. Please apply as soon as possible to be considered. Thank you