How to become a Financial Counsellor

Official title: Financial Counsellor (Community)

Assists individuals, families and groups by assessing financial situations, and supports them by creating plans with a focus on resolving financial difficulties and improving their skills to develop financial stability.

Main tasks

• Supports individuals in the community to resolve or alleviate financial stress
• Creates assessments of financial situations and assists with resolutions if necessary
• Provides information and options to address financial problems, and advocates and negotiates with creditors where required
• Improves financial capabilities and resilience by fostering improved use and management of money, including pathways to safe and affordable credit
• Facilitates referrals to other useful services in the community and provides information about government assistance
• Relays relevant information about consumer credit and bankruptcy
• Provides community training sessions on financial literacy and wellbeing

Ways in

• University: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• University: Social Work & Community degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Diploma of Financial Counselling (CHC51122); Certificate III in Financial Services (FNS30122); Certificate IV in Financial Services (FNS41820); Diploma of Credit Management (FNS51522); Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management (FNS50322); Diploma of Financial Services (FNS51822); Advanced Diploma of Paraplanning (FNS60920); Diploma of Community Development (CHC52121)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $101,920 a year
• About 40,500 people work in this job group now, and about 49,900 are projected by 2035. (+23.4%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Related jobs

• Community Corrections Officer
• Family Support Worker
• Housing Officer
• Refuge Worker
• Welfare Worker

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Financial Counsellor?

Ways in include: Business & Commerce degrees; Social Work & Community degrees; Diploma of Financial Counselling; Certificate III in Financial Services.

How much does a Financial Counsellor earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $101,920 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Financial Counsellor a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 23% by 2035, from about 40,500 to about 49,900 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Financial Counsellor?

Not always. 58% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Business & Commerce degrees; Social Work & Community degrees; Diploma of Financial Counselling; Certificate III in Financial Services.

Will AI change the work of a Financial Counsellor?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04