Wunan’s Financial Hub is a lifeline for many Aboriginal individuals and families across the East Kimberley, offering financial counselling, digital literacy, tenancy education, housing support, and emergency relief. Our goal is to empower people to achieve economic independence, build financial resilience, and navigate an increasingly digital financial landscape.
For many families in the East Kimberley, unexpected financial hardship can mean struggling to afford food, rent, or essential bills. Wunan’s Emergency Relief Program ensures that individuals facing an immediate crisis can access financial support when they need it most.
We also employ a dedicated Financial Counsellor, who provides a much-needed service for the community. Our Financial Counsellor has been able to work closely with individual clients to build their own financial literacy on the path towards long-term financial stability.
Make a Referral to Our Financial Hub Team
What is financial counselling?
Financial counselling is a free service, independent of any credit providers, financial advisors, money coaches, and has no stake or judgment in your decisions.
There are no requirements to access financial counselling but most clients have at least one debt they are worried about or are looking for ways to improve and better manage their financial situation.
What can a financial counsellor assist with?
A financial counsellor can:
- Assess your full financial position and help you strategize and prioritize around your debts.
- Develop a workable budget with you to help you get ahead.
- Advocate on your behalf to your creditors if you are in financial hardship.
- Explain your rights and help you to explore the pros and cons of different options you may have in your particular circumstances.
- Negotiate fair payment plans with your creditors if you are in financial hardship.
- Apply for a debt waiver where circumstances have significantly changed and there is no capacity to repay the debt by any other means.
- Address issues of irresponsible lending under the credit laws.
- Access your credit report file and help you review and discuss ways to improve your credit score.
- Escalate complaints in relation to a creditor to external dispute resolution bodies.
- Refer you to other support services that may assist with other matters impacting your personal wellbeing.
How do I contact the Wunan Financial Counsellor?
We have face-to-face appointments available at Kununurra, Wyndham and Kalumburu.
Contact Wunan on (08) 9166 3881, (08) 9166 5751 or 0429 265 076.
What other tools and resources can assist me?
The Moneysmart website is a great source of information, tools and calculators that can assist with:
- Banking
- Budgeting
- Loans
- Credit and debt
- Investing and planning
- Superannuation
- Retirement
- Insurance
- Scams
- Online safety
The Moneysmart website also has Fist Nations-specific resources regarding:
- Book-up
- Dealing with family pressure about money
- Door-to-door sales
- Managing large sums of money
- Paying for funerals
- Proving identity
- Bank accounts
- Cash loans
First Nation Foundation’s My Money Dream website has great resources around financial planning, wellbeing and resilience. For financial counselling by telephone, you can also contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 or Mob Strong Debt Help on 1800 808 488.