About this resource
On 1 February 2019, the Commissioner the Honourable Kenneth Madison Hayne AC QC submitted his final report to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry (the Royal Commission) to the Governor General. The former Treasurer, the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP released the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission on 4 February 2019.
In addition, the Australian Government committed to actions to improve the financial outcomes of Australians, including undertaking an immediate review of the coordination and funding of financial counselling services that disadvantaged Australians rely on.
The Review was led by Ms Louise Sylvan AM, with support from the Department of Social Services, and undertaken in consultation with The Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
On 3 October 2019, former Minister for Social Services, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, released the final report on the Review of the Coordination and Funding for Financial Counselling Services across Australia (the Review).
The Review noted the benefits of financial counselling to the community, including early intervention and prevention of further financial hardship, advocacy support, and referral to other services for complex issues.
The Review also highlighted the challenges faced by the financial counselling sector, including increasing demand, fragmented delivery, and the array of complex situations and financial products that can lead to financial hardship.
How the Review was conducted
The Review was undertaken in March 2019 and engaged with State and Territory governments, the private and not-for-profit sectors, financial counselling and legal assistance sectors, and relevant Commonwealth agencies.
The Review:
- Assessed whether existing financial counselling services adequately support clients’ current, emerging or changing needs, including areas such as small business and natural disasters;
- Explored the most efficient and appropriate way to deliver financial counselling services;
- Considered how to improve the coordination and consistency of delivery of financial counselling services across all jurisdictions in Australia;
- Recommended options for improving the predictability and sustainability of funding financial counselling services, including by drawing on successful international funding models and considering options for industry funding; and
- Considered how the use of data can inform policy, service delivery and demand trends.
Read the Terms of Reference.
Read the Issues Paper to guide input for the consultation process.
Thank you to all those who contributed to this Review through consultations, surveys and submissions.
For further information on the Review, email FCR@dss.gov.au.
Learn more about the Government response - Review of Financial Counselling Services – Support for people in financial hardship beyond the coronavirus pandemic.