RISING energy bills has been identified as the chief financial concern for battling Bendigo residents.
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The increasing cost of gas and electricity was a hot topic with financial counsellors at a Bring Your Bills Day in Bendigo on Thursday.
The free event, held during Anti-Poverty Week, was a chance for residents to speak directly with financial counselling teams.
Organisations represented included St Luke’s Anglicare, St Vincent de Paul, Bendigo Community Health, Bendigo family Services, Haven, Loddon Campaspe Community Legal and Arc Justice.
Financial counsellor with St Luke’s Ross Smith said affordability of energy bills was a pressing concern for many of his clients.
“A lot of people are on fixed incomes, bills go up, but income doesn’t go up in comparison,” he said.
“Council rates has also been a topic – not so much the increase, but having appropriate hardship policies.
Sheriff’s office regional manager Roger Williams offered advice on fines and warrants.
He urged people with outstanding fines to contact his office and talk through their issues
“The options out on the road when we intercept them at a roadblock are really limited to a wheel clamp or a make a payment demand,” he said.
“We’d prefer to give them options and in a nice atmosphere.”
St Luke’s counselling services manager Tracey Grinter said pay Your Bills day was a good first-step for those having trouble meeting their financial commitments.
“We encourage people to seek help as early as they possibly can as they often have more options available if they seek assistance early,” Ms Grinter said.
A second event in Hargreaves Mall also shone a spotlight on the region’s hidden poor.
Bendigo Community Health Services staff served vegetable soup to the lunchtime crowd to promote its community soup kitchen and awareness about how some families were doing things tough.
The soup kitchen, which operates in Bendigo each Thursday afternoon, serves between 15 and 30 meals a week.