Financial Counsellor

• Work Type/s: Part Time, maximum term contract
• Location: Based in Melbourne (Fitzroy North)
• Applications close: 5 September 2025

Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV) is an Aboriginal^[1] community organisation responsible for managing more than 1,600 rental properties for Aboriginal people living in Victoria.

Our vision is to ensure that Aboriginal Victorians secure appropriate, affordable housing as a pathway to better lives and stronger communities.

In addition to being the largest Aboriginal Registered Housing Agency in Australia, AHV is the lead agency for Victoria’s Aboriginal housing and homelessness policy, Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort. As the housing and homeless policy lead in the Victorian Aboriginal community, AHV has a responsibility to work in partnership with the Government to secure the resources and reforms to implement the policy, while we support sector development to empower Victoria’s Aboriginal community to determine its chosen housing future.

AHV's housing services are targeted to those most in need of support. Through the provision of secure housing by an Aboriginal rental provider, AHV helps strengthen and maintain Aboriginal communities and cultural ties.

This position is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants only

We are seeking applications from highly motivated, reliable people who are keen to work in an Aboriginal organisation that is taking the next step towards self-determination and self-management by ensuring that the organisation is able to maintain a sustainable and financially viable housing portfolio across Victoria for Aboriginal people.

Based in our Fitzroy North office but delivering services statewide, the Financial Counsellor will support Community experiencing financial hardship or requiring financial counselling where renting stress is a contributing factor and/or to improve access to home ownership for Aboriginal Victorians.

The Financial Counsellor will work closely with the AHV teams, other ACCOs, community legal centres and relevant support service providers to provide holistic support to clients. This will integrate financial counselling with appropriate AHV services, providing a comprehensive response to the complex needs of our clients.

We are looking for someone who will bring a client-centred focus to the role and with the following key attributes and skills:

• Awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal communities and cultures and an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal people in contemporary Australia and the diversity of circumstances of Aboriginal people.
• Experience of financial counselling issues experienced by individuals and families and an understanding of the issues that contribute to this.
• Competent counselling and interpersonal skills including negotiating and conflict resolution skills and the ability to counsel clients in a supportive non-judgemental manner.
• Ability to assess a person’s financial situation, identify possible options and communicate this knowledge to individuals clearly and effectively.
• Ability to advocate and negotiate on person’s behalf and help develop self-determined skills around financial management.
• Experience working effectively with clients with complex needs.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• High level interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with peers, staff and other stakeholders, and exercise influence in a range of contexts.
• Ability to work independently, including capacity to exercise effective personal judgement.

This position is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants only

Position based in Fitzroy North with travel required.

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter addressing the key selection criteria in the attached position description (also at https://www.ahvic.org.au/about/ahv-careers) by COB 5 September 2025.      

Applications should be sent to jobs@ahvic.org.au using the subject line: Financial Counsellor.

Please direct enquiries about the position to Rian on 0459 100 313.

[1] Throughout this document the term “Aboriginal” is used to refer to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.