Financial Wellbeing Collective

You heard us talk about it a lot this year, but the fact is everyone is feeling it. It’s the number one reason for financial hardship in the client cohort we support. And it’s making hardship more common. Cozzie livs might have been crowned the Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year in 2023, but the issue has continued to prevail in 2024. And it will continue to be a lived experience for many in our community in 2025. The question for our state and federal key decision makers is: what is planned to help address the cost of living for some of the most financially vulnerable in our state and country? You can read more about the Financial Wellbeing Collective’s state election recommendations here: https://lnkd.in/g7JviCE3

We love the Where is the door? campaign by our friends at Imagined Futures that helps connect residents in the Cockburn, Melville and Fremantle areas to free services including financial counselling. As Perth's largest collective of financial counsellors, the Financial Wellbeing Collective provides financial counselling at 26 locations across Perth including Fremantle, Coolbellup and Success. So if you’re falling behind with bills or feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to reach out for financial support. Financial counsellors can help with budgeting, tackling debt, and advocating on your behalf to utility providers or banks. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gK3zkvSt or visit https://lnkd.in/gzw3k6MJ for the Financial Wellbeing Collective's full list of financial counselling locations. #whereisthedoor #imaginedfutures

Wonderful to meet and speak with Emily Hamilton MLA and Premier Roger Cook at The Spiers Centre Inc. last week. A re-elected Cook Labor Government will deliver $80,000 for The Spiers Centre to construct and install a new nature playground and patio. The Spiers Centre provides support and information to individuals and families from across the northern suburbs with the aim to create strong communities.

A great way to end the week with a little award from Institute of Public Administration Australia WA (IPAA WA) recognising the Financial Wellbeing Collective as the winner of the Excellence in the Not-for-Profit sector. This incredible collaboration has been operating for nine years now and continues to deliver value to the community through its collective impact. #strongertogether Anglicare WA BlueSky Community Group City of Cockburn Communicare Gosnells Community Legal Centre Midlas Mission Australia Money Mentors SOUTHCARE The Spiers Centre Inc. Sussex Street Community Law Service Inc Uniting WA Circle Green Community Legal

Today our amazing collective of people working across our partner organisations got together to celebrate another year supporting Western Australians to build healthy financial wellbeing and resilience. Collaboration is at the core of how we operate, and we would like to thank our wonderful team of financial counsellors, financial support workers, energy coaches, financial coaches and financial wellbeing workers - and the teams that support them - for their dedication and efforts in 2024. Together, we are stronger. Anglicare WA BlueSky Community Group City of Cockburn Communicare Midlas Mission Australia Money Mentors Redgum Justice SOUTHCARE Sussex St Community Law Service Inc The Spiers Centre Inc. Uniting WA

“Energy coaching empowers participants to contribute to positive environmental change to the best of their ability within the controlled environment of their own home." In this Business News article, our General Manager Helena Jakupovic discusses how energy coaching helps achieve long-term outcomes for the environment through activating behavioural change. The Financial Wellbeing Collective delivers energy coaching through the Energy Ahead program, in collaboration with Synergy. Check out the Business News article to learn more about the program and how it is helping to initiate environmentally responsible behaviours. #energyahead #energycoaching #ESG

"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." During 16 Days in WA, Manelka Fernando - a qualified Financial Counsellor with 17 years' experience in the financial wellbeing space - highlights the insidious nature of financial abuse and the fact it can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender or income level. #financialabuse #familydomesticviolence #coercivecontrol #16daysinwa #financialwellbeing

With the festive season in full swing, now is a good time to check-in on your financial and mental health. Beyond Blue, in conjunction with Financial Counselling Australia, have created a Money and Mental Health quiz to help you do this. The handy quiz allows you to gain an understanding of where you sit on the financial and mental wellbeing scale, while linking you to free resources and support. So sit down with a cuppa and take 5 minutes to check-in on your wellbeing during this busy time. #financialwellbeing #mentalhealth

By the time Kylie pays rent, there is barely $150 left for the fortnight to pay for food and bills. The Financial Wellbeing in WA Snapshot 2024 reveals single mothers like Kylie are the hardest hit by the cost of living crisis. And while single mothers have always been an economically disadvantaged group - inhibited in earning an income around child minding responsibilities - cost of living and housing unaffordability is deepening the experiences of poverty for these families. Our client Kylie shares her story of financial hardship with The West Australian to help others not feel alone in their experiences, and to create awareness of the services that are available to people experiencing financial, food or utility stress. Access free help at The Financial Wellbeing Collective: ☎️1800 932 050 🌐 thefwc.org.au https://lnkd.in/g3WTuFUa

When you fail to pay child support, you fail your child. Non-payment of child support is economic abuse. Economic abuse is family domestic violence. Today is Economic Abuse Awareness Day and the Non-Payment of Child Support as a Form of Economic Abuse Working Group is a national alliance of women’s legal, financial counselling and economic rights organisations calling for urgent reforms to stop ongoing systemic violence and economic abuse against Australian women. Single mothers are the hardest hit by financial hardship in Western Australia. The proof is in our data: https://lnkd.in/gzfMMANd And for so many of our single mother clients, whose income opportunities are inhibited by child minding responsibilities, they are owed significant amounts of child support - often tens of thousands of dollars. Raising children in today's cost of living is challenging enough, but when child support is withheld - it creates poverty and hardship for children. #nonpaymentofchildsupportiseconomicabuse #IEAAD24 #EndEconomicAbuse #NoExcuse #NoExcuseforEconomicAbuse #16DaysinWA #PlayYourPart