• Listen to your financial or welfare issue/s and explain what your options are
• Inform you of your rights and responsibilities, including consumer rights
• Advocate on your behalf to financial institutions regarding your debt: reduce/defer/waive payments with creditors, access grants or concessions, access to dispute resolution schemes
• Help you deal with your budgeting and managing your finances - for example, understanding which debts are priorities. This will be very important if debt collection via legal action has commenced.
• Assist with University grant and loan applications and eligibility, as well as information on available grants, schemes, funds and material aid external to the University.
• Assist with lodging complaints to various ombudsmen
• Provide debt advice & options (including creditor negotiation, bankruptcy etc)
• Assist with developing a money plan (possibly looking for ways for increasing your disposable income)
• Refer you to other services such as community health, legal or housing support in the community

Initial appointments are scheduled for one hour. Appointments are free, confidential and take place in a comfortable, private office space. There may be one or more follow up appointments with your Financial Counsellor.

What to bring along:

• Your student ID card
• Bring all relevant information and documentation relating to your issue/s - for example, bank statements, bills, debt collection letters

This service is available for face-to-face or phone appointments on Mondays and Fridays. The service is available by phone for Shepparton and Mildura students.

Contact us to make an appointment.

The Financial Counsellor conducts appointments from the La Trobe University Student Union (LTSU) headquarters on level 2, Upper Agora West, La Trobe University.