Assessor Resource

CHCFIN004
Provide rural financial counselling services

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to adapt practice to a rural context, targeting the specific needs of rurally based clients using a structured strengths-based and client-focused financial counselling process.

This unit applies to financial counsellors. In order to qualify for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) exemption from the delivery of financial service contained in the Financial Services Reform Amendment Act 2003, a financial counsellor must be eligible for membership of the financial counselling association recognised in their State or Territory, or the national financial counselling body.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand Standards and industry codes of practice.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Adapt practice to rural context

1.1 Identify and respond to the current philosophies, framework and issues that apply in a rural context, including specific work health and safety issues

1.2 Identify and use models of work that may be applied in the rural sector

1.3 Recognise and respond to the impact of current and historical social, economic and political factors on clients in the rural sector

2. Target services to the needs of clients in the rural sector

2.1 Use approaches that reflect understanding of a farms as both business and family enterprises

2.2 Apply knowledge of financial aspects relating to planning and management of a rural enterprise

2.3 Collect and review information from key stakeholders and representatives

2.4 Make appropriate referrals using knowledge of local support networks

2.5 Advocate on behalf of clients in the rural sector where appropriate

2.6 Support clients in mediation and negotiation with third parties

3. Ensure personal approach aligns with client needs

3.1 Demonstrate a commitment to access and equity principles in all work undertaken

3.2 Reflect on and take account of own values and attitudes regarding rural financial counselling

3.3 Adapt own approach to meet individual social, cultural and linguistic needs of clients

3.4 Respond with sensitivity to clients experiencing stress

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

worked according to the values and philosophies of rural financial counselling, using critical thinking and problem-solving skills to respond to the financial counselling needs of at least 5 different rural clients, including:

working in accordance with the class order applicable for rural financial counselling services (class order 11/926)

engaging in mediation with financial institutions using state/territory farm debt mediation Acts and other relevant legislation

reading and interpreting enterprise profit and loss statements.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical considerations (national, state/territory) for financial counselling, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:

children in the workplace

codes of conduct/practice

conflict of interest

court systems and the key feature of their operation

discrimination

duty of care

human rights

informed consent

mandatory reporting

practice standards

practitioner/client boundaries

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

records management

rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients:

scope and limitations of financial counsellor role

specific legislation that applies to rural financial counselling work, including:

Financial Services Reform Act 2003

state/territory farm debt mediation Acts

state rural adjustment Acts

work health and safety

current context issues that impact rural financial counselling work, including:

primary industries and their role

farms as business enterprises and commonly used farm business structures

political context

economic context

social issues

technology issues

eligible rural enterprises

models of work in the rural sector, including:

options for development and decision support

farm debt mediation

farm visits

case management

working with families

referral

early intervention/prevention

community development and education

risk identification

stakeholders commonly involved in rural financial counselling work, including:

financial services

community service

industry bodies

government institutions and regulators

personal networks

principles of farm enterprise business and succession planning

principles and techniques for cash flow budgeting

how to interpret profit and loss statements

banking and finance industries and regulatory frameworks including hardship provisions for primary producers

Centrelink support mechanisms

referral networks and resources

principles of client empowerment/disempowerment

principles of access and equity

signs of health/mental health issues, including common indicators of suicide risk

factors for consideration when working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous Australian culture

impact of work practices that are unsatisfactory or illegal, including:

using workers without visa

paying appropriate wages

rural family culture and dynamics.

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace with the addition of simulations and scenarios where the full range of contexts and situations have not been provided in the workplace. The following conditions must be met for this unit:

use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:

client information

organisation policies, procedures and resources

modelling of industry operating conditions, including:

scenarios that involve complex interactions with other people

scenarios that involve problem-solving.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Adapt practice to rural context

1.1 Identify and respond to the current philosophies, framework and issues that apply in a rural context, including specific work health and safety issues

1.2 Identify and use models of work that may be applied in the rural sector

1.3 Recognise and respond to the impact of current and historical social, economic and political factors on clients in the rural sector

2. Target services to the needs of clients in the rural sector

2.1 Use approaches that reflect understanding of a farms as both business and family enterprises

2.2 Apply knowledge of financial aspects relating to planning and management of a rural enterprise

2.3 Collect and review information from key stakeholders and representatives

2.4 Make appropriate referrals using knowledge of local support networks

2.5 Advocate on behalf of clients in the rural sector where appropriate

2.6 Support clients in mediation and negotiation with third parties

3. Ensure personal approach aligns with client needs

3.1 Demonstrate a commitment to access and equity principles in all work undertaken

3.2 Reflect on and take account of own values and attitudes regarding rural financial counselling

3.3 Adapt own approach to meet individual social, cultural and linguistic needs of clients

3.4 Respond with sensitivity to clients experiencing stress

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

worked according to the values and philosophies of rural financial counselling, using critical thinking and problem-solving skills to respond to the financial counselling needs of at least 5 different rural clients, including:

working in accordance with the class order applicable for rural financial counselling services (class order 11/926)

engaging in mediation with financial institutions using state/territory farm debt mediation Acts and other relevant legislation

reading and interpreting enterprise profit and loss statements.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical considerations (national, state/territory) for financial counselling, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:

children in the workplace

codes of conduct/practice

conflict of interest

court systems and the key feature of their operation

discrimination

duty of care

human rights

informed consent

mandatory reporting

practice standards

practitioner/client boundaries

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

records management

rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients:

scope and limitations of financial counsellor role

specific legislation that applies to rural financial counselling work, including:

Financial Services Reform Act 2003

state/territory farm debt mediation Acts

state rural adjustment Acts

work health and safety

current context issues that impact rural financial counselling work, including:

primary industries and their role

farms as business enterprises and commonly used farm business structures

political context

economic context

social issues

technology issues

eligible rural enterprises

models of work in the rural sector, including:

options for development and decision support

farm debt mediation

farm visits

case management

working with families

referral

early intervention/prevention

community development and education

risk identification

stakeholders commonly involved in rural financial counselling work, including:

financial services

community service

industry bodies

government institutions and regulators

personal networks

principles of farm enterprise business and succession planning

principles and techniques for cash flow budgeting

how to interpret profit and loss statements

banking and finance industries and regulatory frameworks including hardship provisions for primary producers

Centrelink support mechanisms

referral networks and resources

principles of client empowerment/disempowerment

principles of access and equity

signs of health/mental health issues, including common indicators of suicide risk

factors for consideration when working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous Australian culture

impact of work practices that are unsatisfactory or illegal, including:

using workers without visa

paying appropriate wages

rural family culture and dynamics.

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace with the addition of simulations and scenarios where the full range of contexts and situations have not been provided in the workplace. The following conditions must be met for this unit:

use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:

client information

organisation policies, procedures and resources

modelling of industry operating conditions, including:

scenarios that involve complex interactions with other people

scenarios that involve problem-solving.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
 
Identify and respond to the current philosophies, framework and issues that apply in a rural context, including specific work health and safety issues 
Identify and use models of work that may be applied in the rural sector 
Recognise and respond to the impact of current and historical social, economic and political factors on clients in the rural sector 
Use approaches that reflect understanding of a farms as both business and family enterprises 
Apply knowledge of financial aspects relating to planning and management of a rural enterprise 
Collect and review information from key stakeholders and representatives 
Make appropriate referrals using knowledge of local support networks 
Advocate on behalf of clients in the rural sector where appropriate 
Support clients in mediation and negotiation with third parties 
Demonstrate a commitment to access and equity principles in all work undertaken 
Reflect on and take account of own values and attitudes regarding rural financial counselling 
Adapt own approach to meet individual social, cultural and linguistic needs of clients 
Respond with sensitivity to clients experiencing stress 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CHCFIN004 - Provide rural financial counselling services
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I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

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Assessment Record Sheet

CHCFIN004 - Provide rural financial counselling services

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Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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