on this page
Help from us
If you’re going through a hard time financially, you may want to get counselling, help and emotional support. Find out about our social worker services.
You can talk to one of our Financial Information Service (FIS) Officers for free. Our FIS Officers can share tools, resources and information that can help you make more informed financial decisions.
You can also find out more about how to manage your money.
If you’re experiencing financial abuse by someone limiting your access to money, find out how we can help you with family and domestic violence concerns. Any behaviour that’s violent, threatening, controlling or intended to make you or your family feel scared and unsafe can be considered family and domestic violence.
You can avoid getting a Centrelink debt by keeping us up to date. You can find more information on when and how to notify Centrelink when you have a change of circumstances if you get a Centrelink payment. If you owe us money, there are options to help you repay a Centrelink debt.
Help with debt
If you’re dealing with debt there’s different ways to manage it. You can speak to your service providers to arrange payment plans or speak to a financial counsellor.
Financial counsellors can suggest ways to improve your financial situation, manage debt and access other support services. Find out how to contact a financial counsellor to suit your situation below.
If you need an interpreter to access these services, call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) line on 131 450 and ask them to connect you.
If you get a payment from us and you’ve overdrawn your bank account, talk to your financial provider. They may apply the Code of Operation to protect some of your Centrelink payment.
The National Debt Helpline provides a free, confidential and independent service to everybody. The website has a quick exit button and an option to delete your chat history if you need to. You can speak to a financial counsellor by:
- calling them on 1800 007 007 Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
- live chat with them Monday to Friday, 9 am to 8 pm
- finding a financial counsellor in your area on their website.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can speak to a First Nations financial counsellor for free by calling the Mob Strong Debt Helpline on 1800 808 488. They can provide information and support about most money questions.
Contact the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Rural Financial Counselling Service if you’re experiencing or at risk of financial hardship and you’re:
- a farmer
- a small rural business
- a fishing enterprise
- a forest grower or harvester.
Many businesses, like banks, electricity and other service providers, have hardship teams. They may be able to delay, reduce or waive debt repayments depending on your situation. The sooner you reach out to them the easier it’ll be for them to help you.
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has made a commitment to protect customers worried about paying their energy bills.
Contact your energy provider to find out what help is available. You can also ask your financial counsellor to talk to the energy provider’s hardship team for you, and negotiate on your behalf.
If you haven’t paid a debt, you may get a legal notice like:
- a court order
- a summons
- a statement of claim
- a liquidation claim.
Legal notices are serious, don’t ignore them. If you do, it can impact your financial future. Find out where you can get free legal advice on the Moneysmart website.
Other help
Moneysmart helps Australians take control of their money with free tools, tips and guidance. Find money tips in 11 languages about:
- how money works in Australia
- what a bill is and how to pay one
- working and getting paid in Australia
- tax in Australia and more.
A no interest loan has 0% interest and no fees or charges ever. You can use them to help cover unexpected costs and pay the loan back at a rate that’s manageable for you.
Find out more about no interest loans and a full list of what you can use them for on the Good Shepherd website.
If you have a Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card and are getting an eligible Centrelink payment you can join the Saver Plus program.
It’s a 10-month savings program run by Brotherhood of St. Laurence community providers. It helps you build essential financial skills for managing money and becoming a regular saver. Upon completion, you can get up to $500 matched savings to buy education related items.
Find out more about Saver Plus eligibility requirements, what you can use the savings for and your nearest provider on the Brotherhood of St. Laurence website.
Ask Izzy is a mobile website that connects people who are in crisis with the services they need right now and nearby. If you need help meeting everyday needs, you can find information about support services near you on the Ask Izzy website.
Financial abuse is a type of family and domestic violence. It’s a behaviour limiting your access to money. Warning signs might be:
- taking or using your money without your permission
- not being allowed to work
- having to account for how you spend your money
- withholding financial information from you
- spending any payments you get without your consent.
Find out what organisations can help you with family and domestic violence.