Queensland community groups are calling for a holistic integrated service that supports people in financial hardship.
A new report from the McKell Institute has put forward the case for an integrated Community Financial Rights Service in the state.
McKell Institute Queensland Executive Director Sarah Mawhinney said financial services for disadvantaged Australians were critical to end cycles of poverty and to address economic inequality.
Ms Mawhinney said governments had in recent decades established dedicated Financial Rights Services for residents with free legal services often combined with financial counselling for people struggling with a range of financial and consumer issues.
“In Queensland, there is an opportunity to lead the way with a service that integrates legal assistance, financial counselling and social supports under the one roof,” she said.
Ms Mawhinney said individuals currently had limited access to free legal services through general community legal centres, legal aid and Indigenous legal services.
“These services are already stretched or are lacking in the specialist knowledge required to address complex areas of law.”
She said the Stronger Safety Net report outlined why a Financial Rights Service was needed in Queensland, how such a service would operate and how it would benefit not only those who used the services, but all Queenslanders.
“For a Queenslander doing it tough, an integrated Community Financial Rights Service would not solve all their economic challenges overnight, but it would make a massive difference to pointing them toward a better future.
“It’s a mode that has proven remarkably effective and cost efficient in other states, so the template is there,” she said.
Ms Mawhinney said a multi-disciplinary model inclusive of legal services, financial counselling and social support services under the one roof was best practice to address holistic needs.
“Queensland has been bearing the brunt of Australia’s cost-of-living crisis, with significant levels of poverty and vulnerability and a concerning number of residents struggling to make ends meet.
“Queensland residents face a sizeable gap in access to legal services, particularly regarding consumer rights, debt issues and financial abuse.”
Caxton Legal Centre Chief Executive Officer Cybele Koning said the centre was partnering with Uniting Care to trial an integrated model of lawyers specialising in financial rights working with social workers and financial counsellors.
“Together, we tackle complex legal issues associated with stubborn debt, predatory lending, consumer rights and financial abuse, along with social issues such as domestic and family violence, homelessness, unemployment and mental unwellness. Getting back on your feet requires a holistic approach and this model works,” Ms Koning said.
Uniting Care Group Executive, Family and Disability Services, Donna Shkalla said providing support to navigate complex financial and legal issues could alleviate the pressure on many Queenslanders.
“Too often, individuals must deal with intricate and confusing consumer concerns, which can negatively impact their financial, emotional, and even physical wellbeing,” Ms Shkalla said.
“A collaborative model of support that promotes financial justice for people from a social, financial, and legal perspective will help people overcome these obstacles and have the potential to alleviate so much pressure on families and communities.”
