Goodstart announces Good Shepherd partnership to support families and educators manage financial distress

Goodstart Early Learning will join forces with specialist finance charity Good Shepherd to enable financial counselling and access to affordable finance programs to be offered to any of its 60,000 families and 15,000 educators who may have been adversely financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and require specialist support. 

The partnership will enable Good Shepherd’s extensive experience in working to increase economic security and well being, particularly for people with low incomes, and especially for women and girls, to be made available to any Goodstart family or team member who requests it. 

Commenting Julia Davison CEO of Goodstart said “It has been a long few months of turmoil and uncertainty and I am very glad that we’re able to partner with Good Shepherd who can offer Goodstarters and our families much needed financial counselling and No Interest Loans.”

Stella Avramopoulos Good Shepherd’s CEO echoed these sentiments noting “We know that this pandemic has impacted many people who have never been in financial distress before. This is why Good Shepherd is working with Goodstart’s employees and families to get through this crisis.”

As part of the partnership Good Shepherd will be able to support Goodstart families and team members with:

• Free assessment, information and counselling via a single telephone number
• Access to Household Relief Loans Without Interest for rent and utilities (up to $3,000 if eligible)
• Access to No interest loans for other household essentials, for example white goods, car repairs and school expenses (if eligible)

At the heart of the program will be the “financial conversation” which takes place between a Good Shepherd team member who is experienced in financial capability and the family or team member looking for assistance with the ultimate objective of helping them to achieve financial well being.

“Many households have been thrown into financial distress during the pandemic and being able to call just one number to seek advice will be a great help at this difficult time,” Ms Davison said.

To find out more about Good Shepherd please click here. 

To learn more about Goodstart Early Learning please click here.