Jackie Smith
MICAH Projects, Brisbane
Video here
Why did you become a financial counsellor?
My background is that I have over 25 years of working both in the insurance industry and also the financial auditing sector. I was looking for a new way of being able to support vulnerable people. I just literally jumped into the social services sector and so I started the Diploma of Financial Counselling, and it was through my studies that I just saw that there was so much advocacy opportunity to support women who are impacted by family violence.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Being able to advocate for women within the financial counselling framework. To hold industry accountable and have the debt wiped and remove all of that impact on credit file.
Can you share a specific moment with a client that reminds you why this work really matters?
I’m working with my clients and I’m client focused, but I’m also writing statements for FCA Toolkit, AFCA and ASIC and that all becomes part of the framework of special moments.
Clients have the opportunity to find justice, because I’m working with people who don’t have the capacity to be able advocate for themselves and so it means that I’m lifting the voice of vulnerable people who are unable to advocate for themselves and lift up their voice, so they are seen and heard.
What issues are you most commonly helping people with right now?
Women impacted by financial violence and financial abuse – they have debt and they need support and advocacy in that area. So, over this period of time I have written off just less than 4 million in debt. So, a lot of the work is focusing on that advocacy. What makes this more challenging and difficult is that I’m representing women who have been traumatized. And so, since the inquiry into financial abuse, I have really gone hard on the advocacy work that I do that we don’t provide supporting documents because doing a statement of financial position is re-traumatising for the clients.
You have just retired – any advice?
Because I started with no experience in financial counselling, I really valued the support from the Foundation, communities of practice and group supervision where financial councillors who are solo have an opportunity – with other experienced financial counsellors – to unpack cases, talk about financial counsellor stories. And so, it’s just a wonderful learning opportunity. So, I’m retiring and I’ll be moving into offering supervision.