Programs

The Australian Refugee Association (ARA) supports newly arrived communities and individuals, empowering clients to participate actively in all aspects of life in Australia.

ARA offer financial counselling in partnership with UnitingCare Wesley Bowden which is funded by the Department of Social Services, this service provides budgeting, information and advocacy for people experiencing financial difficulties.

In addition this service offers small one-off payments to eligible clients for assistance with utility bills and contributions towards education costs (eg: uniforms, textbooks, calculators). Currently available for people living or studying in the Marion, Mitcham and Port Adelaide-Enfield council areas.

For more information, contact an office near you.

The Australian Migrant Resource Centre (AMRC) specialises in humanitarian and migrant settlement, and community capacity building and development for young people, women and other migrants, empowering them through training and employment initiatives. By assisting to build community, the AMRC supports new arrivals and their new and establishing groups and communities to engage with and contribute effectively to South Australia’s society, culture, economy and environment.

AMRC provide statewide case-management services and support to onshore asylum seekers while they await the resolution of their immigration status. This department is referred to as the Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS). People previously rejected from the program in the past may be eligible to re-enter the program and eligible for a Centrelink payment.

AMRC are offering approx. $75 - $100 towards utility bills for eligible clients.

[Services are responding to the COVID-19 Crisis by changing how they operate and facilitate services for those in need. See more...](https://affordablesa.com.au/programs/money-and-finances/covid-19-changes-to-financial-help-services)

Financial counselling is a free, independent and confidential service offering support, information and advocacy to anyone experiencing financial hardship.

A Financial Counsellor will look at your overall financial situation and provide you with your options. They can advocate and negotiate on your behalf if needed.

A Financial Counsellor cannot provide investment advice, financial planning, or monetary assistance.

Financial counselling is offered by a range of service providers throughout South Australia via an appointment based service. See locations below for providers in your area.

Alternatively, you can call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 for telephone financial counselling or a referral to a financial counsellor in your area.

The Helpline Service is available from Monday to Thursday between the hours of 9.30am - 8pm and Fridays 9.30am - 4.30pm (closed public holidays).

Issues a Financial Counsellor can assist with include:

- Financial rights and responsibilities

- Budgeting and money management

- Applications for hardship

- Debts and debt recovery processes

- Concessions and related entitlements

- Referrals to complementary services

- Insolvency and bankruptcy options

Many services are responding to the COVID-19 Crisis by changing how they operate and facilitate services for those in need.

PHONE BASED SERVICES remain open and available for clients. These include Financial Counselling that would normally take many face to face appointments around the state. Most of these resources have now been made available as phone appointments. (To make document presentation easier you may want to download a mobile scanner App if you do not have scanning capability at home. Apps such as Fast scanner, Genius and Tiny Scanner are available from Apple and Google play).

FACE-TO-FACE appointments and contacts have been reduced, cancelled or are managed through social distancing. Most services have put in place an appointment booking system with no walk ins. Information about these services and their operating policies may be updated on the service's website and worth checking before you make an enquiry.

All services will be responding to current health advice and so you can presume that the Governments current Health guidelines will need to be followed. Anyone with health issues as indicated by the health advice should refrain from attending and should indicate this before making appointments. South Australian Governments Social Distancing measures https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-information-on-social-distancing

If you cannot find a service in the App or Website then it may not be operating through the crisis and has been removed to make it easier to navigate through services that are still operating.

Please be patient with service staff and let us know of any good or bad experiences, changes you think we have missed or ways in which you have managed through this crisis. You can contact us by e-mail fcsupport@salvationarmy.org or drop us a line on social media.

Stay informed, stay safe and if possible stay at home.

The Australian Red Cross has received Government funding specifically to support people who are on temporary visas with a small one-off emergency relief payment.

This service is for people who are impacted by COVID-19; with support offered to people in Australia with urgent needs:

- are not Australian citizens or permanent residents; and

- are not eligible for State or Territory funds for temporary visa holders (except those delivered by Red Cross); and

- have no income or savings and no access to other suppport.

To check your eligibility and apply, please visit the website link provided.

ACCAN supporting families and households with NBN Education Assistance Packages, Online Learning and Access to Devices and Telco Assistance Packages.

NBN Education Assistance Packages help Australians respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, NBN Co is providing up to $50 million to assist phone and internet providers to support low-income family households with school-aged children who do not currently have an active nbn connection at home.

Online Learning and Access - COVID-19 containment measures have required many school students to learn from home. Access to suitable online equipment has emerged as a significant education barrier for students and families. Device loan schemes are arrangements where a school temporarily loans a device to a student who requires one for the purpose of education. **Parents seeking information and advice on loan devices should contact their child’s or children’s school for assistance**

For more information click on the website links provided.

For South Australians needing advice or assistance with managing the cost of living or budgeting. The Helpline provides information, advice and referrals to appropriate services such as financial counselling, case work, advocacy or community education.

The Helpline Service is available from Monday to Thursdays between the hours of 9.30am and 8pm and Fridays 9.30am and 4.30pm (except Public Holidays). To access information, support, or referrals, call the Helpline on the number provided.

MoneySmart is an initiative of the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC). The website assists people with managing their money and finances by offering tips & tools to help you make the most of your money.

If your having problems with debt, your starting point should be the National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007.

In a nutshell, financial counselling helps you manage your debts and get your finances back under control.

Get advice about

- Your financial situation, to help you fully understand your position.

- How to prioritise your debts

- The pros and cons of the options that might work for you in addressing your debts (for example, repayment of loans, negotiating with creditors, bankruptcy and so on. There are always options.

- Your rights and responsibilities around credit and debt

- How to access other services you may need, such as legal services, crisis food and accommodation services, and health services.

Financial counselling is free, confidential and independent. The National Deb Helpline is a not-for-profit, community based service that's available to people in Australia experiencing financial difficulty.