MEDIA RELEASE 1 June 2010
MANDURAH WELFARE WELCOMES FINANCIAL COUNSELLOR The St Vincent de Paul Society’s welfare office in Mandurah welcomes Desmond Townsend to the team to provide assistance to the community as a Financial Counsellor. The financial counselling service is made available in the region to assist and support people facing financial difficulties and pressures to make wiser and more informed choices. “It is often that the people are not aware of the full range of benefits and services that are available to them both in the local and wider community which the Financial Counsellor is able to provide information about,” says Desmond. “Being the Financial Counsellor is often the mediator in negotiation, it is always satisfying to get a winwin situation to presenting issues for the people as well as third party. With each person that I see I have the purpose in mind that when the person leaves the office, they will be in a better frame of mind regarding their financial situation than when they arrived,” says Desmond. Under the Commonwealth Financial Counselling (CFC) program by FaHCSIA, a grant given to the Society over a period of 18months has made it possible for the current position of Financial Counsellor to operate in Mandurah. The Mandurah Conference, a parish based group of volunteers, offer emergency welfare assistance in the form of food, clothing, vouchers, assistance with utility bills, advocacy, household furniture and goods and friendship and support, and the St Vincent de Paul Society is committed to respond to every genuine call for help they receive. Currently in the middle of a Winter Appeal, the St Vincent de Paul Society is asking the community to support the Appeal so that every genuine request for help can be adequately responded to. This year’s Appeal campaign “No one should know this” explores the everyday knowledge homeless and disadvantaged people identify with the message that no one should know what they know. For more information on the Appeal visit www.vinnies.org.au. For donations please call 13 18 12. People in the Mandurah area seeking welfare assistance are urged to call (08) 9535 9035 between 10am–1pm Mondays to Fridays. For more information on the Society call 13 18 12 or log on to www.vinnies.org.au Media Contacts: Communications Coordinator: Deana Pullella (08) 9475 5426 or 0404 086 054