Board Members (Voluntary) – Sydney / Hybrid

Passionate about social justice? Looking to make a difference? Financial Rights is looking to recruit several new volunteer Directors to the Board.

The Financial Rights Legal Centre (Financial Rights) is a community legal centre that aims to help alleviate poverty, disadvantage and financial exclusion by educating, assisting, counselling and advocating for disadvantaged persons in managing their finances and asserting their rights.

We are looking to recruit 2-3 people who have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Financial & Risk management
• Technology & Data
• Not for profit governance
• Fundraising and securing funds from a diverse range of sources
• Legal and/or financial counselling experience
• Policy and/or campaigning
• For at least 1 applicant, an interest in taking on the Chair role from 2024

You will be joining a committed group of professionals who are committed to the excellent governance of Financial Rights. Above all, you will support Financial Right’s mission and work.

We strive to have a leadership team that reflects our society, and we particularly encourage applications from people who come from communities traditionally underrepresented in Boards of Directors, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from CALD backgrounds, people with disability and/or from low socio-economic communities.

This is a volunteer position that requires five – seven meetings a year (held online), and ad hoc discussions out of session by email.

About the organisation

We provide free and independent financial counselling, legal advice and representation to individuals about a broad range of financial issues. Financial Rights is one of the NSW answer points for the National Debt Helpline, which helps people experiencing financial difficulties. We also operate the Insurance Law Service, providing advice nationally to consumers about insurance claims and debts to insurance companies; and the Mob Strong Debt Help service which assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with credit, debt and insurance matters. Financial Rights provided over 13,000 services to consumers during the 2021/22 financial year.

Financial Rights employs close to 50 staff including financial counsellors, solicitors and policy and communications officers to help consumers understand and enforce their rights in relation to financial services. This involves using a range of tools and approaches, including direct financial counselling and advice, legal advice and assistance, litigation, research, policy work and advocacy through the media. Current focus areas include debt enforcement & bankruptcy, closing the gaps in consumer protection in the credit law (for example Buy Now Pay Later), credit reporting, insurance in a changing climate, and data and privacy in financial services.