A serious motor vehicle accident put Tony* in hospital for three years. His injuries meant he could no longer work — plunging his family into financial stress.
Tony shares, “It’s been hard because I went from running successful businesses to having to live on a pension. Believe me, I was crying because we were in such a difficult situation.”
Fortunately, Tony and his wife, Lauren*, came to Mary MacKillop Today to meet with Emma, our Financial Counsellor. Emma supported Tony and Lauren through regular meetings to help improve their financial situation, such as managing a budget and financial planning.
Lauren says, “Emma didn’t make us feel like a failure. She had empathy. Emma helped us sort out things, like our electricity and gas bills and get some savings together for a decent car. We were able to get back on our feet. Now, we can afford more things. And we’ve got less debt. Less stress.”
It’s now been five years since Tony and Lauren first met Emma. It’s been an absolute delight to see how far they have come to free themselves from financial stress. Emma continues to keep in touch with Tony and Lauren as they move towards a brighter financial future.
As Emma says, “The best thing we can give people is information and options. Knowing how to manage bills. Or the difference between good credit and bad credit. So, they can learn things that they can pass on to the next generation.”
We are so thankful to our generous supporters who make our Financial Inclusion program possible. You are helping to break the cycle of poverty for people doing it tough in the current cost-of-living crisis.
“We really want to thank people for all the donations they give to Mary MacKillop Today… because without Emma, we don’t think we would be where we are now. It’s been a blessing because she helped us out when we needed it.”
– Tony
Here’s how your support helps people like Tony and Lauren turn their financial situation around:
- Financial Literacy Workshops: group workshops run by expert Financial Inclusion Officers focused on making informed financial decisions.
- Financial Counselling: personalised support through one-on-one sessions with qualified Financial Counsellors working to overcome financial challenges.
If you’d like to help more people in need like Tony and Lauren, please partner with us and donate now.
*Names and images changed to protect privacy
