For Sandy Souville, becoming a financial counsellor is more than a career change. It’s the chance to give others the same hope and support that once changed her own life.
Originally from Paris, France, Sandy moved to Australia in 2008 and eventually settled in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Several years ago, Sandy’s family faced a difficult period. Raising three young children, she was dealing with debt collectors, financial uncertainty and a growing sense of overwhelm. At the time, she didn’t even know financial counselling existed.
“I just Googled help,” Sandy recalls.
Eventually, she was referred to a financial counsellor. Walking into that appointment, she was convinced bankruptcy was her only option. Instead, she found someone who listened without judgement, helped her understand her situation and showed her a path forward.
“I felt a huge weight come off my shoulders,” she says.
That single appointment became a turning point. With support and guidance, Sandy rebuilt her financial confidence, opened her own massage business and gradually worked her way through significant debt. More importantly, the experience planted a seed.
“I always thought that one day I wanted to be a financial counsellor,” she says.
Life, however, had a few more twists in store first.
After careers in massage therapy, bookkeeping, and community services, Sandy felt it was time for a new direction. While exploring her options, she found herself drawn back to community-focused work, as what really motivated her was helping people. One idea kept returning: helping others manage their debt problems by becoming a financial counsellor.
“I wanted to help people who were in situations similar to mine,” she says.
Determined to pursue that goal, Sandy enrolled in ICAN Learn’s Diploma of Financial Counselling. Like many students, she balanced study with full-time work and family responsibilities.
“It definitely required organisation and discipline,” she says.
One highlight was learning from experienced financial counsellors.
“The ICAN Learn trainers would share real stories from their work, not just the theory,” Sandy says. “It showed us what financial counselling actually looks like in practice. Hearing their experiences and what happens in the real world brought the learning to life.”
She also found work placement helped build her confidence.
“You can learn the knowledge, but working with real scenarios helps you understand that every client and every story is different.”
When Sandy completed her Diploma, it was a family achievement as much as a personal one. Her children, who had watched their mum study for years, celebrated alongside her. She framed her Diploma, hung it in the kitchen and marked the occasion with a family dinner and cake.
Now she’s applying for financial counselling roles and looking forward to the next chapter.
Having once sat in the client’s chair herself, Sandy understands how vulnerable it can feel to ask for help.
“Behind every debt, bill or financial problem is a person who wants someone to listen without judgement,” she says
For anyone considering a career change, Sandy’s message is simple: don’t let fear hold you back.
Her journey from client to qualified financial counsellor shows how life’s biggest challenges can sometimes lead us to exactly where we’re meant to be
And if Sandy has her way, one day someone she helps may be inspired to follow the same path.
“It feels like a full-circle moment. Someone once gave me the guidance and hope I needed, and now I hope to do the same for others. Maybe one day, someone I help will be inspired to become a financial counsellor too. Who knows!”
Sandy studied the Diploma of Financial Counselling CHC51122 with ICAN Learn (RTO ID: 45177).
Want to find out more?
Head to ICAN Learn’s website for current courses and scholarships, or reach out to us at administration@icanlearn.edu.au
