Course Title: Develop and use financial counselling tools and techniques

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2022

Course Code: BAFI5234C

Course Title: Develop and use financial counselling tools and techniques

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.  

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.  

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.  

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus  

  

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.  

School: 535T Social Care and Health

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 three (3) 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

These four 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 (campus-based and online classroom) activities:

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

Out-of-class activities:

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


Teaching Schedule

Financial Legal Cluster Semester 1 & 2 2022

Week

Topic

Week 1

Introduction to Financial Counselling/Australian Legal System

History of Financial Counselling

The work and Role of the Financial Counsellor

  • Ethical considerations
  • Confidentiality
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Informed Consent
  • Responsibilities of Financial Counsellor

Week 2

Introduction to Financial Counselling/Australian Legal System

  • Rights of the Client
  • Financial Counselling Model
  • Skills Required by a Financial Counsellor
  • Service Delivery

Operating within the Australian Legal System

Week 3

Responding to Initial Client Contact

  • Initial Response
  • Skills for a Financial Counselling Interview

Week 4

Responding to Initial Client Contact

  • Initial Interview

Week 5

Responding to Initial Client Contact

  • Initial Interview

Week 6

Responding to Initial Client Contact

  • Confidentiality
  • Client Files/Case Notes

Week 7

Assessing the Clients Financial Situation

  • Clients Living Expenses

Week 8

Assessing the Clients Financial Situation

  • Identify Types of Debt

Week 9

Assessing the Clients Financial Situation

  • Statement of Financial Position

Week 10

Assessing the Clients Financial Situation

  • Asset & Liability Statements
  • Analysing the Results

Week 11

Evaluating Debt & Identifying Options

  • Options
  • Consequence of Non Payment

Week 12

Evaluating Debt & Identifying Options

  • Credit Reporting
  • Debt Collection Legislation & Guidelines

Week 13 (1/2 day)

Evaluating Debt & Identifying Options /Co delivered with Reflect

  • External Dispute Resolution

Week 14

Consumer Protections and Legal Rights/Using Legal Information/Maintaining Legal Information Knowledge

  • Consumer Law (Consumer Action Legal Centre to present)

Week 15

Consumer Protections and Legal Rights/Using Legal Information/Maintaining Legal Information Knowledge

  • Credit Law (Consumer Action Legal Centre to present)

Week 16

Consumer Protections and Legal Rights/Using Legal Information/Maintaining Legal Information Knowledge

  • Debt Recovery through court & Judgement Proof (Consumer Action Legal Centre to present)

Week 17

Action Plans/Ongoing Support & Maintain Client Records/Termination

Developing an Action Plan & Monitor Progress (provide ongoing support)

Week 18

Action Plans/Ongoing Support & Maintain Client Records/Termination

Client Termination

Week 19 (1/2 day)

Consumer Protections and Legal Rights/Using Legal Information/Maintaining Legal Information Knowledge/Co delivered with Reflect

Bankruptcy (AFSA to present)

Week 20

Developing & Using Advocacy & Negotiation Tools/ Identifying appropriate referral and support services

  • Identify appropriate referral and support services
  • Collect and develop resources to provide to clients

Week 21

Bringing it all Together/Guest Speakers

 

Please note: this outline is a guide to the sessions delivered.  Changes may need to be made to accommodate industry presenters.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Course Overview: Access Course Overview


Overview of Assessment

 Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through:

Knowledge Questions 

220-hour work placement in a financial counselling service


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 tasks for this cluster:

  • Assessment task 1: Knowledge questions
  • Assessment task 2: Knowledge questions
  • Assessment task 3: Case study scenarios

Work placement assessments -

  • Portfolio of Evidence (Task 4)
  • Placement Booklet (Task 5)


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: www.rmit.edu.au/students

Course Overview: Access Course Overview