Indigenous women qualify as financial counsellors

Two indigenous women from the Peninsula area successfully completed an accredited training course in financial counselling on Friday, June 29, at Green Central in Kariong.

Funded by Fair Trading, the course is the second Aboriginal Financial Counselling course to run in Australia.

On completion of the course, Denise Markham of Woy Woy and Bobbi Murray of Empire Bay, attended a graduation ceremony and were awarded a certificate in Financial Counselling.

Among the guests at the graduation was indigenous magistrate Matthew Myers.

Mr Myers presented participants with a certificate and congratulated them on their successful participation within the course.

Course coordinator Dr Betty Weule said she was pleased with the outcomes of the course.

"Prior to the course, participants had no experience in financial counselling," she said.

"Even with no experience they have shown many strengths and achieved many successes as a result of completing the course.

"Most of these women will go on to do financial counselling and I have great confidence in them.

"These women are interested in supporting their community and this is a great way for them to do that," she said.

Ms Cattermole said she believed the course helped her be able to provide support to her community.

"We as Aboriginal people are specialists in our culture in our own right.

"We can deliver services to the Aboriginal community to assist and support them."

Upon completing the course, participants are able to provide financial counselling services to Aboriginal people and others within the community.

Media Release, 11 Jul 2012

Charlotte Dickie, Youth Connections

Photo: Charlotte Dickie