Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn

ISSUE NO. 2

AUGUST 2024

Donate Here

Legal Corner

Struggling With Debt? Financial Counselling Might Help!

Better Place

Font Size
Font Size
Line Height
Line Height
Dyslexia Friendly
Black & White
Hide Images
Night Mode

Financial counselling is a free and confidential service offered by not-for-profit community organisations. They often provide services within prisons – ask if financial counsellors are available at your location. You may also be able to access a financial counsellor by phone, either arranged via your caseworker or with the contact details below.

Financial counsellors are skilled professionals who provide advice and support to people struggling with bills and debt. A free financial counsellor can help you explore your options, negotiate with your creditors, put plans in place to manage your debts and get your finances back under control.

Financial counsellors have specific knowledge about the credit, bankruptcy and debt collection laws, social security framework, grants and concessions available to help with cost of living, industry hardship obligations and how to access free dispute resolution through independent dispute resolution schemes. They are also trained in negotiation and counselling.

Financial counsellors CAN assist you by:

  • doing a full assessment of your financial situation – including regular income and expenditure, assets and liabilities
  • understanding which debts are priorities
  • developing a workable budget and money plan with you
  • explaining your rights and the pros and cons of different options you have to manage your debts and financial hardship
  • advocating and negotiating on your behalf directly with your creditors
  • lodging complaints on your behalf to external dispute resolution schemes
  • providing advice about what options, rights and responsibilities you may have
  • referring you to other services you may need, such as legal services, health services and crisis food and accommodation services

Financial counselling is a free and confidential service offered by not-for-profit community organisations. They often provide services within prisons – ask if financial counsellors are available at your location. You may also be able to access a financial counsellor by phone, either arranged via your caseworker or with the contact details below.

Financial counsellors are skilled professionals who provide advice and support to people struggling with bills and debt. A free financial counsellor can help you explore your options, negotiate with your creditors, put plans in place to manage your debts and get your finances back under control.

Financial counsellors have specific knowledge about the credit, bankruptcy and debt collection laws, social security framework, grants and concessions available to help with cost of living, industry hardship obligations and how to access free dispute resolution through independent dispute resolution schemes. They are also trained in negotiation and counselling.

Financial counsellors CAN assist you by:

  • doing a full assessment of your financial situation – including regular income and expenditure, assets and liabilities
  • understanding which debts are priorities
  • developing a workable budget and money plan with you
  • explaining your rights and the pros and cons of different options you have to manage your debts and financial hardship
  • advocating and negotiating on your behalf directly with your creditors
  • lodging complaints on your behalf to external dispute resolution schemes
  • providing advice about what options, rights and responsibilities you may have
  • referring you to other services you may need, such as legal services, health services and crisis food and accommodation services

Legal Q&A

Do you have a general legal query that you want answered?
Is  there an area of law that you think people inside should know more about? Submit your question in the provided form, and we might publish an answer in the paper.

Submit Your Question

Financial counsellors CAN also provide information and advice about:

  • credit and debt related matters
  • the rights and obligations of creditors
  • how the debt collection and debt enforcement process works
  • the pros and cons of bankruptcy and other insolvency options
  • how to access other specialist support services, including gambling, family support, personal counselling, legal aid and emergency relief

Financial counsellors DON’T:

  • charge any set up fees and/or ongoing fees for their service
  • receive any payments or commissions from third parties for their services
  • lend money
  • complete tax returns
  • provide debt consolidation services
  • provide investment advice (that’s the role of financial planners)

National Debt Helpline – 1800 007 007

The free National Debt Helpline is open from 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

When you call, you'll be transferred to the service in your state.

Mob Strong Debt Helpline – 1800 808 488

Mob Strong Debt Helpline is a free legal advice service about money matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from anywhere in Australia.

The helpline is open from 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Small Business Debt Helpline – 1800 413 828

If your business is in financial difficulty, call the Small Business Debt Helpline. The Helpline is open 9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Financial counsellors CAN also provide information and advice about:

  • credit and debt related matters
  • the rights and obligations of creditors
  • how the debt collection and debt enforcement process works
  • the pros and cons of bankruptcy and other insolvency options
  • how to access other specialist support services, including gambling, family support, personal counselling, legal aid and emergency relief

Financial counsellors DON’T:

  • charge any set up fees and/or ongoing fees for their service
  • receive any payments or commissions from third parties for their services
  • lend money
  • complete tax returns
  • provide debt consolidation services
  • provide investment advice (that’s the role of financial planners)

National Debt Helpline – 1800 007 007

The free National Debt Helpline is open from 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

When you call, you'll be transferred to the service in your state.

Mob Strong Debt Helpline – 1800 808 488

Mob Strong Debt Helpline is a free legal advice service about money matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from anywhere in Australia.

The helpline is open from 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Small Business Debt Helpline – 1800 413 828

If your business is in financial difficulty, call the Small Business Debt Helpline. The Helpline is open 9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Around the Country: Parole

Around the Country: Parole

Around the Country: Parole

By Fitzroy Legal Service, Prisoners Legal Service (NSW Legal Aid), Prisoners Legal Service (QLD) and About Time
By Fitzroy Legal Service, Prisoners Legal Service (NSW Legal Aid), Prisoners Legal Service (QLD) and About Time

Parole is a process that gives some people the ability to get out of prison and serve the last part of their sentence in the community, under the supervision of Community Corrections (which used to be known as Probation and Parole).

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 6

10 MIN READ

Silence May Be Golden, but Is It a ‘Right’?

Silence May Be Golden, but Is It a ‘Right’?

Silence May Be Golden, but Is It a ‘Right’?

By Daniel Vansetten
By Daniel Vansetten

In law, silence is considered a fundamental right that provides fairness in criminal proceedings.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 9

5 MIN READ

What You Need to Know About OPCAT

What You Need to Know About OPCAT

What You Need to Know About OPCAT

By Andreea Lachsz
By Andreea Lachsz

When people are imprisoned, they lose their freedom, but they do not lose all of their human rights. International human rights law makes this very clear.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 2

9 MIN READ

Do You Have a Right to Legal Representation?

Do You Have a Right to Legal Representation?

Do You Have a Right to Legal Representation?

By Daniel Vansetten
By Daniel Vansetten

If you believe your right to a fair trial has not been provided, you should seek advice from a lawyer.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 7

5 MIN READ

Leave a Comment

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
0 Comments
Author Name
Comment Time

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere. uis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Silence May Be Golden, but Is It a ‘Right’?

By Daniel Vansetten

In law, silence is considered a fundamental right that provides fairness in criminal proceedings.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 9

5 MIN READ

Common Human Rights Issues in Prison

By Prisoners’ Legal Service (Queensland)

This article discusses some of the human rights that may be relevant in prison with reference to human rights protections under the Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD) in Queensland.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 8

6 MIN READ

Legal Q&A – No Body, No Parole

By About Time

I wonder if you could explain the new "No Body No Parole" law in New South Wales, where now people charged with murder or manslaughter need letters from the head of police?

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 8

3 MIN READ

The Federal Election: Voting and More

By About Time

The federal election is coming up. It happens about every three years. It’s for electing the government for the whole country – the federal government.

Legal Corner

ISSUE NO. 8

9 MIN READ

Get the full paper in print each month.

6-Month Subscription:

Physical copy of About Time delivered to your home or organisation each month for six months. Paid upfront.

Subscribe for $70

12-Month Subscription:

Physical copy of About Time delivered to your home or organisation each month for twelve months. Paid upfront.

Subscribe for $125

Newsletter

Be the first to learn about our monthly stories, plus new initiatives and live events

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.

Support Australia's first national prison newspaper

A place for news and education, expression and hope.

Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

It's
About Time.

A place for news and education, expression and hope.

Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

Donate Here

Newsletter

Be the first to learn about our monthly stories, plus new initiatives and live events

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.