Disadvantaged members of the Newcastle community now have access to free tax advice and assistance following the opening of the University of Newcastle’s Tax Clinic.
Founded by Professor Christina Boedker and Christian O’Connor, the free and confidential service opened on March 25 and is located at the University of Newcastle’s Greater Bank Finance Lab at the NuSpace campus.
Clinic co-founder and manager, Christian O’Connor, said the service provided help for individuals and small business clients who wanted to regain control of their finances and manage their tax obligations.
“We’re looking for unrepresented taxpayers and people in need who are seeking assistance with their tax matters and who don’t currently have an accountant of their own as they can’t afford one,” O’Connor said.
The clinic welcomes a range of people who have experienced financial hardship, from single parent families to the elderly.
“If they have a choice of putting food on their table or paying for an accountant, we are here to help them,” O’Connor said.
Assistance with MyGov, lodging tax returns, managing tax debt repayments and responding to an ATO notice are among the services the clinic offers.
Advice and assistance are provided to clients of the tax clinic by students from the Newcastle Business School and Newcastle Law School, under the supervision of experienced tax practitioners and academic staff.
“If someone has incurred debts for any reason, we’ll assist them with advocating on their behalf with the ATO to get them a solution they are happy with,” O’Connor said.
Due to the intensive nature of the program, O’Connor said appointments could take anywhere between half an hour to two hours.
While it’s only early days for the clinic, O’Connor said the University of Newcastle had been getting appointment inquiries every day.
“The response has been really good,” he said.
“A lot of our inquiries have been coming from financial counsellors who have been referring us.
“The Financial Counselling Network in the Hunter were particularly excited that we’ve opened because they have a lot of clients they can’t assist with tax matters, whereas we can, as we’re legally allowed to do that with our registration.”
The clinic has capabilities to service the entire region, and will provide an outreach program for people who are unable to attend the in-person Newcastle clinic.
The outreach program will offer pop-up clinics, a mobile tax clinic and online technology to ensure the most isolated groups will have access.
The University of Newcastle said a particular effort would be made to access Indigenous and other low-income communities, including Muswellbrook and Cessnock.
The clinic provides an opportunity for students to assist their community while integrating real world issues and experiences into their studies.
“We are here for the clients to primarily to assist them, but it also is a teaching clinic so both are involved,” O’Connor said.
“Our plan is to have four or six students in the clinic per semester – while that’s our current capacity but we may be able to extend that.
“The students come in, spend one semester here and learn what it’s like to work in an office with real life clients, assisting them with the real issues they have.”
The University of Newcastle Tax Clinic is part of the National Tax Clinic Program – an Australian Government initiative and grant program O’Connor described as competitive to secure.
The Australian Government will inject $300,000 into the program over the next three years, in conjunction with funding from the university itself, which contributes in the form of staffing, free rent, access to technology and other resources.
In the meantime, O’Connor has encouraged Novocastrians to get in contact with the clinic to determine eligibility status.
“We’re keen to get the word out more … we’re here to help.”
Consultation is by appointment only. Residents have been encouraged to email the clinic to request an appointment.
Maia O’Connor