CHCFIN007 — Provide advice, counselling and representation to financial counselling clients

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What an assessment for CHCFIN007 must cover

157 assessable components: 5 elements (31 performance criteria), 5 performance evidence and 114 knowledge evidence requirements, plus 7 foundation skills. An audit-defensible tool maps every question and task back to these — that mapping is the coverage matrix Auditori generates alongside the assessment.

Elements & performance criteria

1 Assess client’s financial position.

1.1Assess the validity and status of each debt.
1.2Assess the client’s financial capacity to pay valid debts.
1.3Assess the impact of any debt recovery processes on the client.
1.4Work with client to assess highest priority debts or most significant financial stresses.
1.5Identify complex financial issues that are systemic.
1.6Discuss identified legal and consumer protection issues to highlight key areas that may require action.
1.7Assess if the client needs information, advice, referral or representation.

2 Respond to any complex needs.

2.1Respond to any identified risks.
2.2Share relevant information with client about any identified risks and their relationships with finances.
2.3Adjust practice to mitigate personal and financial risks identified.
2.4Provide relevant referral information and support if required by the client.

3 Counsel and give advice to client.

3.1Identify and inform client of potential for additional or different income sources or entitlements to improve their financial situation.
3.2Identify and discuss client’s legal rights and responsibilities in relation to each debt and overall financial situation.
3.3Apply relevant legislation, regulation, codes and guidelines to client situation.
3.4Provide advice to the client by assessing the consequences of workable strategies.
3.5Adjust practice to respond to clients with complex needs.
3.6Identify the need for additional support services and refer the client with their consent when necessary.
3.7Write and maintain a case plan which identifies issues to be addressed, including financial issues or capability matters, that sets out the client and financial counsellor roles, strategies and responsibilities.
3.8Identify and use tools to provide advice to a client about insolvency.
3.9Develop actions for the client.

4 Use a strengths-based approach.

4.1Communicate information in a manner that responds to the emotional state of the client.
4.2Observe boundaries with clients.
4.3Maintain a transparent and collaborative working relationship with the client based on respect and self-determination.
4.4Implement self-care processes to manage trauma related to client experience.

5 Act for the client.

5.1Explain what is involved if the financial counsellor will be acting for the client.
5.2Work with the client to identify areas where they want to take action.
5.3Obtain a third-party authority to act for the client using principles of informed consent.
5.4Collect and use appropriate documentation required to represent the client.
5.5Identify, use and adapt standard financial counselling sector tools and templates.
5.6Apply appropriate negotiation tools and techniques with creditors, government agencies and others to agree arrangements on behalf of the client to improve the client’s financial position.
5.7Take action to assist the client to improve their financial position.

Performance evidence

provide financial counselling session for at least five clients with multiple and complex needs according to organisational practice
for each the above clients create an action plan according to organisational requirements including: confirm client’s financial situation; prioritised list of debts and debt recovery processes; complete list of all sources of income; identify applicable legal and consumer protection rights; document client agreed actions; document agency agreed actions; obtain informed consent to act on behalf of the client; document communications with any third party; document plan
for one of the above five clients, document a plan for an insolvent client including outlining their responsibilities and implications
across the above five clients, collectively provide representation in each of the following mediums: telephone; written complaint to Internal Dispute Resolution; written complaint to External Dispute Resolution
perform the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of 220 hours of work in a financial counselling agency that has met the requirements for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) exemptions from holding a financial services or credit licence or in an appropriate simulated environment. These 220 hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours for the purposes of assessment.

Knowledge evidence

financial counselling role, including: giving advice to clients in the financial counselling context
financial counselling role, including: representing clients and acting on the client’s behalf
financial counselling role, including: duty to act in their client’s best interests
financial counselling role, including: ethical obligations, including as set out in the Australian Financial Counselling Code of Ethical Practice
financial counselling role, including: having expertise in financial difficulty and a range of areas relating to financial difficulty
financial counsellors are not: financial planners or accountants
financial counsellors are not: providers of emergency relief and material aid
financial counsellors are not: finance brokers
financial counsellors are not: legal advisors or solicitors
financial counsellors are not: therapeutic counsellors
financial counsellors are not: business advisors
financial counsellors are not: tax agent
types of debt and their features, including: secured and unsecured
types of debt and their features, including: unsecured credit products including credit cards, personal loans, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), wage advance, Small Amount Credit Contracts (SACCs) and Medium Amount Credit Contracts (MACCs)
types of debt and their features, including: consumer leases
types of debt and their features, including: fringe lenders or predatory lenders
types of debt and their features, including: joint relationship debts
types of debt and their features, including: guarantors and co-borrowers
types of debt and their features, including: tax debts
types of debt and their features, including: fines and infringements
types of debt and their features, including: government related debts
indicators of client situations that require adjustments to practice: problem gambling
indicators of client situations that require adjustments to practice: domestic and family violence
indicators of client situations that require adjustments to practice: alcohol, drugs and substance abuse
indicators of client situations that require adjustments to practice: elder abuse
indicators of client situations that require adjustments to practice: mental Illness
indicators of client situations that require adjustments to practice: other factors
adjustments to practice to prevent further harm to client for: problem gambling
adjustments to practice to prevent further harm to client for: domestic and family violence
adjustments to practice to prevent further harm to client for: alcohol, drugs and substance abuse
adjustments to practice to prevent further harm to client for: elder abuse
adjustments to practice to prevent further harm to client for: mental Illness
adjustments to practice to prevent further harm to client for: other factors
referral pathways for high-risk aspects of client situations: problem gambling
referral pathways for high-risk aspects of client situations: domestic and family violence
referral pathways for high-risk aspects of client situations: alcohol, drugs and substance abuse
referral pathways for high-risk aspects of client situations: elder abuse
referral pathways for high-risk aspects of client situations: mental Illness
referral pathways for high-risk aspects of client situations: other factors
tools for collecting financial information: statement of financial position
tools for collecting financial information: complex needs assessment
tools for collecting financial information: financial position statements for small business
tools for collecting financial information: assets and liabilities
tools to use in providing advice: online tools for accessing grants or concessions
tools to use in providing advice: use of standard letters
strengths based perspectives: transparency
strengths based perspectives: collaborative
strengths based perspectives: partnerships
strengths based perspectives: social justice
strengths based perspectives: power with, not over respect
strengths based perspectives: focus on capabilities
strengths based perspectives: self determination
personal insolvency options: bankruptcy: what it is
personal insolvency options: bankruptcy: advantages, disadvantages and implications
personal insolvency options: bankruptcy: application process
personal insolvency options: debt agreements
personal insolvency options: part X arrangements
National and State or Territory legislation, codes of practice and guidelines including but not limited to: consumer protection laws, regulatory guidance and industry codes affecting consumers and small business
National and State or Territory legislation, codes of practice and guidelines including but not limited to: National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (particularly Schedule 1, National Credit Code and the provisions relating to responsible lending, hardship requirements)
National and State or Territory legislation, codes of practice and guidelines including but not limited to: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (particularly Schedule 2, The Australian Consumer Law)
National and State or Territory legislation, codes of practice and guidelines including but not limited to: State or Territory Fair Trading Acts
National and State or Territory legislation, codes of practice and guidelines including but not limited to: social security law
National and State or Territory legislation, codes of practice and guidelines including but not limited to: taxation law
National and State or Territory legislation, codes of practice and guidelines including but not limited to: Privacy Act and credit reporting code
National and State or Territory legislation, codes of practice and guidelines including but not limited to: Bankruptcy Act 1966
National and State or Territory legislation, codes of practice and guidelines including but not limited to: ASIC regulatory guides, ASIC/ACCC debt collection guidelines
National and State or Territory legislation, codes of practice and guidelines including but not limited to: Banking Code of Practice, Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice, Telecommunications Consumer Protection Code, energy codes, BNPL Code
National and State or Territory legislation, codes of practice and guidelines including but not limited to: Open data and the consumer data right
income sources such as: wages and salary
income sources such as: Centrelink
income sources such as: child support
income sources such as: rental or board
income sources such as: superannuation income stream or lump sum
income sources such as: insurance payments including Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) and income protection
income sources such as: business income
income sources such as: compensation including workers compensation, injury and accident
income sources such as: other income sources
relevant client documents, hard copy or online, such as: income statements including Centrelink
relevant client documents, hard copy or online, such as: liability and debt statements
relevant client documents, hard copy or online, such as: legal documents and contracts
relevant client documents, hard copy or online, such as: bills
specific legislation impacting financial counselling, including: ASIC class order 11/792 re exemption from an Australian Financial Service Licence and how this applies to the work of generalist financial counsellors and their agencies
specific legislation impacting financial counselling, including: ASIC class order 11/793 re exemption from an Australian Credit Licence and how this applies to all financial counsellors and their agencies
specific legislation impacting financial counselling, including: claims management exemption for financial counsellors that are members of their State or Territory financial counselling association
aspects of informed consent including: privacy statement
aspects of informed consent including: checking for understanding
aspects of informed consent including: varying or ending agreement
aspects of informed consent including: rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients
expenditure support relating to: utilities
expenditure support relating to: housing
expenditure support relating to: cost of living
expenditure support relating to: emergency relief and other assistance
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: debt waivers
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: hardship arrangements under the credit code or informal arrangements
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: hardship arrangements for non-credit code debts or bills
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) and External Dispute Resolution (EDR)
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: bankruptcy and debt agreements
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: early access to superannuation
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: accessing insurances such as TPD, income protection
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: insurance claims for contents or property
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: amending a credit report
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: challenging an unfair contract term
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: legal action through courts or tribunals
actions that may assist the client to improve their financial position: appealing against adverse decisions from Centrelink and Child Support
representing the client including: what is involved
representing the client including: roles and responsibilities
representing the client including: third party authority form
representing the client including: continuing input and instructions from the client
representing the client including: document the issues where the financial counsellor will be representing the client
key sources of information and resources including: National Debt Helpline (NDH) website
key sources of information and resources including: State peak body resources
tools and techniques for negotiating with creditors or making complaints: communication including both written and verbal
tools and techniques for negotiating with creditors or making complaints: how to best present your client’s case, including the evidence required
tools and techniques for negotiating with creditors or making complaints: standard letters and resources developed by the financial counselling sector or legal centres.

Foundation skills

Reading skills to: source and interpret information from a range of complex documents.
Writing skills to: produce written materials in the required format, style, structure according to the intended audience and purpose of correspondence.
Oral communication skills to: ask open and closed questions to gather and confirm information from interviewee; participate in a variety of spoken exchanges with others using clear and direct language to convey, request and confirm understanding of information.
Numeracy skills to: access and interpret required information from familiar and unfamiliar financial reports.
Problem-solving skills to: identify and analyse discrepancies in information gathered; develop and implement integrated service plans to address individual needs in meeting goals.
Planning and organising skills to: draw on the diverse perspectives of others to gain insights into issues, establish a common purpose and negotiate agreement.
Technology skills to: use main features and functions of technology and software programs to complete work tasks.

Unit content sourced from training.gov.au — © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Auditori is not affiliated with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

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Questions about assessing CHCFIN007

What does an assessment tool for CHCFIN007 need to cover?

To satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence, an assessment for CHCFIN007 needs to address all 157 unit components: 5 elements with 31 performance criteria, 5 performance evidence requirements, 114 knowledge evidence requirements, and the foundation skills. A coverage matrix mapping each question and task to these components is what an auditor looks for.

How does Auditori generate an assessment tool for CHCFIN007?

Auditori pulls the current release of CHCFIN007 from training.gov.au and generates a complete package: candidate assessment, assessor guide with model answers and observation criteria, and a coverage matrix mapping every component. A suitably qualified person then reviews and approves the draft in a built-in workflow — consistent with ASQA's guidance on AI use in VET — before export as branded PDF and editable Word.

Is the first assessment tool really free?

Yes. Every new account includes one free credit — enough to generate the complete assessment tool for CHCFIN007 — with no card and no subscription required. After that it's pay-as-you-go per unit.

Can I check my existing CHCFIN007 assessment instead of generating a new one?

Yes — upload your existing assessment or learner guide and Auditori maps it against every element, performance criterion, PE and KE of CHCFIN007, showing exactly what's covered and what's missing. Mapping costs a quarter of a credit.

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