Emma is one of our dedicated Financial Counsellors working in the Central West region of NSW. She recently supported Sarah, a client who was struggling to break free from a cycle of debt.
“When I first met Sarah, she was weighed down by financial debt. She lived alone in a rental property outside of town, relying on a disability pension that barely covered her basic needs. Any unexpected expense was enough to send her into crisis. On top of that, Sarah was living with a range of complex health issues that required frequent medical appointments and costly specialist tests.
In our first sessions together, we worked through a budget and secured Government energy vouchers. I arranged a payment-matching plan with her electricity provider—every $50 fortnightly payment Sarah made was matched. Over 12 months, her electricity debt dropped from $3,800 to just $800, thanks to her commitment to the repayments.
Recognising the burden of travelling to out-of-area medical appointments, I also provided Sarah with information about the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme. To her surprise, she qualified for support and was reimbursed for the travel costs. Slowly, her emotional resilience began to grow.”
The impact of this support was so meaningful that Sarah asked Emma to share her story: “Please tell your other clients to make the call. It’s worth it.”
Thanks to generous supporters like you, people like Sarah don’t have to walk alone.
Sarah still faces ongoing health and financial challenges – but she now feels more confident navigating support systems and knows where to turn for help. Most of all, she wants others to know that change is possible.
Your kindness to Mary MacKillop Today is creating hope and real change across Australia and beyond.
Thank you.
