Course Title: Develop and use financial counselling tools and techniques

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: BAFI5234C

Course Title: Develop and use financial counselling tools and techniques

School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5360 - Diploma of Financial Counselling

Course Contact: Jo Wallwork

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 3983

Course Contact Email: mary-josephine.wallwork@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 65

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None.

Course Description

 

This course describes the skills and knowledge required to assess and respond to the immediate and ongoing needs of clients in the context of a strengths-based and client-focused financial counselling model.

This course is clustered with four (4) other courses:

• CHCFIN001 Facilitate the financial counselling process
• CHCFIN002 Identify and apply technical information to assist clients with financial issues
• CHCLEG002 Interpret and use legal information
• CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice

These five courses are delivered and assessed together.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	CHCFIN003 Develop and use financial counselling tools and techniques
Element:	E1. Clarify client's financial position
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Review and use client information to inform preparation of a statement of assets and liabilities for the client 1.2 Work with the client to prepare a statement of income and expenditure in line with their immediate and ongoing financial situation 1.3 Identify and clarify for the client the different elements of their financial position
Element:	E2. Develop and use advocacy and negotiation tools
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Develop written tools for use in advocacy and negotiation according to organisation protocol 2.2 Identify and source existing standardised resources for use in advocacy 2.3 Apply appropriate negotiation tools and techniques to advocate and negotiate on behalf of client 2.4 Undertake telephone and face-to-face negotiations as required to meet and/or improve client’s financial position 2.5 Obtain third party authority to act on behalf of client in appropriate format 2.6 Collect and use appropriate documentation to support the advocacy process
Element:	E3. Collect and develop resources and provide to clients
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Use standard checklists to develop and review resource materials that contain relevant and current information 3.2 Maintain currency and completeness of available resources 3.3 Prepare resources as a basis for addressing duty of care requirements when undertaking financial counselling with clients 3.4 Provide client with relevant, clear and targeted resource materials to inform and assist the client to improve their financial position 3.5 Undertake research as a basis for preparing an information package on client issues for their later reference 3.6 Ensure written materials are written in a succinct and clear way and are presented logically and sequentially to match third party needs with client objectives 3.7 Ensure all written documentation produced addresses financial counselling sector standards and practices

Learning Outcomes

 

On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements. By applying these skills and this knowledge you will be able to analyse and use technical and legal information and develop the appropriate written tools and resources to assist individuals to understand their rights and make informed decisions about financial issues within the context of a strengths-based and client-focused financial counselling model.

Details of Learning Activities

In-class activities:

• teacher directed group activities/projects
• peer teaching
• group discussion
• class exercises to review discussions/lectures
• role play activities

Out-of-class activities:

• independent project based work
• online and other research
• independent study

Teaching Schedule

Workshop 1	Background and development of Financial Counselling The work and Role of the Financial Counsellor Ethical considerations Confidentiality Conflict of Interest Informed Consent Responsibilities of Financial Counsellor Rights of the Client Financial Counselling Model Skills Required by a Financial Counsellor Service Delivery Operating within the Australian Legal System
Workshop 2	WIL - overview Initial Client Contact Initial Response Skills for a Financial Counselling Interview Initial Interview Client Files Confidentiality Supervision and Reporting Reflective practice
Workshop 3	Review Income Sources Clients Living Expenses Identify Types of Debt Statement of Financial Position Asset & Liability Statements Analysing the Results
Workshop 4	Consumer Law Credit Law
Workshop 5	Debt Collection Legislation & Guidelines Credit Reporting External Dispute Resolution
Workshop 6	Fines Presentation Debt Recovery Debt recovery through court Judgement proof Consequence of Non Payment Reflective practice
Workshop 7	Bankruptcy Discussing options with the client Develop action plan in partnership with client Options for gambling issues Other relevant areas for options Other areas of law
Workshop 8	Identify appropriate referral and support services Collect and develop resources to provide to clients Resources and referrals Finding and managing resources Appropriate ones for client referrals
Workshop 9	Review Action Plan & Monitor Progress (provide ongoing support) Client Termination Reflective Practice National Hardship Register Centrelink Visit Micro-finance: Good Shepherd to present re NILS, STEP UP, etc
Workshop 10	Final Role Play Assessment – bringing all parts together & incorporating Counselling Assessment (in-class)

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

 

Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through:

• Case study scenarios and questions
• Knowledge questions
• Research projects
• Simulated activities such as role play activities
• the 220-hour work placement

Assessment Tasks

This course is assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment. To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete the following assessment tasks to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher when you have completed the assessment tasks. You should refer to the assessment plan which is available on Canvas for details of each assessment task and for detailed assessment criteria. Assessment Task 1: Written Questions Assessment Task 2: Case studies and Written Questions Assessment Task 3: Case studies and Written Questions Assessment Task 4: Short answer questions and Case studies                                                                                               Assessment Task 5: Case studies and Written Questions Assessment Task 6:Written Questions Assessment Task 7:Written Questions Assessment Task 8: Personal Development Plan  Assessment Task 9: Role play simulation and Group work activities

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These matrices are available with the assessment tasks on Canvas.

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: rmit.edu.au/students  

Course Overview: Access Course Overview