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FREE Energy Hardship Training Program for Emergency Relief and
Community Workers
Presented by Community
Information Victoria Inc (CIVic) on behalf of Consumer Affairs
Victoria.
Community agencies offering
emergency relief services now have access to FREE information and
training programs as part of the Government’s A Fairer Victoria
policy and in response to the 2005 Inquiry into Financial Hardship
of Energy Consumers.
As it is now mandatory for energy
retailers to have hardship policies for their domestic customers in
Victoria, Community Information Victoria Inc (CIVic), on behalf of
Consumer Affairs Victoria, is conducting free training programs in
metropolitan and regional Victoria between February and June 2008
for staff and volunteers who work with clients facing energy
hardship.
This 3-hour training session
is relevant for emergency relief workers whose role brings them in
contact with people having difficulties paying their gas or
electricity bills.
Topics covered
include:
• The rights and responsibilities
of customers and retailers
• Understanding energy bills and ways of making payment
• Assisting people who have payment difficulties
• Useful information about concessions, grants, loans, rebates, and
other available support
• Disconnection
• Complaints and useful contacts
Participants in the training
sessions will receive a practical workbook. A statement of
participation will be issued to those attending training and a
light meal will be provided.
Please note that this three-hour
Energy Hardship Training is designed to skill relief workers and
volunteers to assist people having difficulty paying their energy
bills and is not to be confused with any energy hardship
information sessions provided by energy retail
companies.
For enquiries please phone 03
9672-2002 (Monday to Thursday)
Scheduled
Training Sessions for 2008
Metropolitan
-May & June
2008
Country: May & June
2008
Registration
Form
Feedback
from participants:
'The training is relevant
to both volunteers and paid workers, highlighting the effects of
the new legislation related to energy.'
'I had not appreciated
how complex the issues were. I now know that there are many avenues
for getting further assistance.'
'Packed program, useful
advice, concrete suggestions and information.'
'The training has
enlightened and inspired me.'
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