POSITION FILLED: Financial Capability Worker
Description
Salary Type: Contractor
Commitment: 8 hours, 1 day per week with the potential to increase hours (flexible)
Flexible Role: This role will be working in a hybrid environment; remotely as well as holding face-to-face client sessions within the Illawarra region, New South Wales.
Contract rate: $45 per hour
Our Vision
A safe and stable home for everyone with fair and practical pathways into home ownership.
About Us
Head Start Homes is a innovative not-for-profit Community Services organisation helping lower-income renters improve their financial capability and achieve their home ownership dreams via our groundbreaking Empowerment Services and Products. Most of our clients are single mums, First Nations Peoples, households with a disability or social housing tenants.
Your Opportunity
We’re looking for a passionate and values-driven Financial Capability Worker to join our Home Ownership Success Team and work alongside our clients to empower them to improve their financial capability and become home ownership ready.
You will be driven by our cause and the positive impact we have on people’s lives, their communities including helping to reduce intergenerational poverty. Apart from upholding Head Start Home’s vision and mission, you will have 1+ years of working as a Financial Capability Worker.
You will be an integral part of the Home Ownership Success Team and will be a key driver in supporting clients to improve their financial capacity/literacy and achieve their home ownership dreams. The Home Ownership Success Team drives and facilitates the implementation of our Empowerment Service and Products, which support eligible clients throughout their entire home ownership journey. This may include supported savings plans, help with credit checks, no deposit, access to discounted homes and a free property coach.
About You
Essential criteria
• An equivalent or higher qualification of a Certificate III in Community Services Work incorporating the following mandatory units:
-CHCEDU005– work with clients to identify financial literacy education needs
- CHCEDU006 – improve clients’ fundamental financial literacy skills, and
- CHCEDU007 - provide group education on consumer credit and debt
• 12+ months experience in financial capability or relevant field
• You are willing and able to travel to Wollongong and its surrounding suburbs
• Demonstrated experience with working with disadvantaged people
• Proven ability to work sensitively and respectfully with First Nations Peoples
• Demonstrated experience with working with people from diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrated ability to work within and be part of our Team
• Ability to build professional relationships and make referrals to and work with Financial Counsellors
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Strong knowledge of communication practices and techniques
• Excellent planning, organisational, and time management skills
• Competency in Microsoft applications including MS Teams, Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Willingness to learn new technology
• You are empathetic, value connection and are community-minded
• Live our values.
Desirable criteria
• Experience as a Financial Counsellor
• Diploma of Financial Counselling or equivalent with a strong commitment to on-going professional development
• You live in Wollongong area or surrounding suburbs
• Lived experience in social or affordable housing
• Prior experience in a not-for-profit environment or in the housing and or finance sector
Responsibilities
Financial Literacy
Provide information, money management skills and coaching to help clients make better financial decisions and build financial resilience. This includes:
• Assessment of the financial situation of clients to identify immediate remedies and longer-term solutions to improve a client’s financial wellbeing
• Coaching clients on budgeting, debt management, savings, credit building, and other financial topics within scope
• Providing one-on-one financial capabilityservices to individuals and families
• Conducting financial assessments and developing personalised financial plans for clients based on their unique needs and circumstances
• Assist clients in accessing relevant financial resources and services as required
• Conduct community education workshops.
Duty of Care
• Act in the client’s best interest
• Advocate and negotiate within scope on the client's behalf including telco’s and utility hardships as instructed by the client
• Assess the client's overall financial situation including providing referrals to appropriate services.
Operational
• You’ll be a part of the Home Ownership Success Team, acting as a point of triage to promote the program’s services and work on case coordination with the rest of the team
• Maintain accurate and confidential client records and data; responsible disposal of client information in line with our privacy and code of conduct policies
• Participate in project evaluation and reporting activities as needed
• Collaborate with other team members and stakeholders to ensure coordinated and effective delivery of services.
Maintaining accreditation and currency
• Participate in relevant training on all relevant legislative changes to keep up to date in order to maintain a high standard of service
• Attend training and professional development opportunities to stay current on industry trends and best practices and maintain accreditation
To Apply
Please email us at: contact@headstarthomes.org.au. Please include:
• cover letter detailing why you’d like to join our team
• resume outlining relevant experience as listed above
• any relevant certifications
Questions
If you have any questions about the role, please contact our Home Ownership Success and Communications Executive, Jo Formosa, on 0414 808 571.
About Head Start Homes
With our vision for a safe and stable home for everyone with fair and practical pathways to home ownership, Head Start Homes is advancing a more equitable home ownership system by disrupting homelessness, intergenerational poverty and cycles of disadvantage.
We achieve this by providing innovative products and services that empower our clients to achieve their home ownership dreams and exit rental accommodation. To be eligible, clients must meet income thresholds or live in social or affordable housing. Most of our clients are single mums, First Nations Peoples or households with a disability.
With the support of more than 100 businesses, government agencies and charities, we foster innovation and collaboration to achieve our vision. We are accredited as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt community service organisation.
