ASIC MoneySmart
Online financial guidance including tips on:
- managing your money
- borrowing and credit
- insurance
- superannuation and retirement
- investing
- scams and more
- life insurance policy searches
National Debt Helpline
Financial counsellors provide information, support and advocacy to people in financial difficulty. Their services are free, independent and confidential.
National Debt Helpline website
Tel: 1800 007 007
(9:30am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday)
Small Business Debt Helpline
Small business financial counsellors are qualified professionals who provide free advice to small business owners and sole traders in financial difficulty.
Small Business Debt Helpline website
Tel: 1800 413 828
Community Legal Centres
Community legal centres are independent, not-for-profit community organisations that provide legal and related services to the public, focusing on the disadvantaged and people with special needs.
To find your nearest community legal centre, visit: clcs.org.au
Mob Strong, Debt Help
Part of the Financial Rights Legal Centre, Mob Strong, Debt Help is a free legal advice service about money matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from anywhere in Australia.
Mob Strong, Debt Help website
Tel: 1800 808 488
(9:30am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday)
Regulatory bodies
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
For inquiries and complaints relating to consumer protection matters in securities, futures, life insurance, general insurance, deposit-taking activities and the supervision of superannuation funds.
Tel: 1300 300 630
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
The ACCC promotes competition and fair trading and regulates national infrastructure to make markets work for everyone. The ACCC accepts and records reports of information about business practices and behaviours that concern consumers. It does not resolve individual complaints or provide legal advice on a consumers’ rights and obligations under the law. Find out more
Tel: 1300 302 502
Insurance Law Service
Free legal service available to anyone in Australia who would like advice on insurance law or in resolving a dispute with an insurer. Advice, information and referral about:
- home and contents insurance
- consumer credit insurance
- income protection insurance
- life insurance
- travel insurance
- motor vehicle insurance
Insurance Law Service website
Tel: 1300 663 464
Consumer Credit Legal Centres
Community legal centres that provide specialised legal advice, advocacy and counselling in financial services, particularly consumer credit, banking and debt recovery.
ACT - Consumer Law Centre
Tel: (02) 6257 1788
NSW - Financial Rights Legal Centre
Tel: 1800 844 949
QLD - Caxton Legal Centre
Tel: (07) 3214 6333
SA - Consumer Credit Law Centre
Tel: (08) 8202 5960
TAS - Consumer Credit Hotline
Tel: 1800 232 500
VIC - Consumer Action Law Centre
Tel: 1800 466 477
WA - Consumer Credit Legal Service
Tel: (08) 9221 7066
Consumer Affairs
If you have a problem that relates to consumer affairs or fair trading, contact your state or territory body:
ACT: Access Canberra | 13 22 81
NSW: NSW Fair Trading | 13 32 20
NT: NT Consumer Affairs | 1800 019 319
QLD: Office of Fair Trading Queensland | 13 74 68
SA: SA Office of Consumer and Business Services (CBS) | 131 882
TAS: Tasmanian Consumer Affairs & Fair Trading | 1300 65 44 99
VIC: Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV)| 1300 55 81 81
WA: WA Consumer Protection - Department Of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety | 1300 304 054
Legal Aid Commissions
Legal Aid commissions provide services to disadvantaged clients in many areas of criminal, family and civil law, including free, confidential face-to-face legal advice and legal representation for eligible clients.
ACT - Legal Aid ACT
Tel: 1300 654 314
NSW - Legal Aid NSW
Tel: 1300 888 529
NT - NT Legal Aid Commission
Tel: 1800 019 343
QLD - Legal Aid Queensland
Tel: 1300 65 11 88
SA - Legal Services Commission SA
Tel: 1300 366 424
TAS - Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania
Tel: 1300 366 611
VIC - Victoria Legal Aid
Tel: 1300 792 387
WA - Legal Aid Western Australia
Tel: 1300 650 579
Other ombudsman schemes
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman(ASBFEO): 1300 650 460
Energy & Water Ombudsmen
NSW: 1800 246 545 website
QLD: 1800 662 837 website
SA: 1800 665 565 website
TAS: 1800 001 170 website (energy) website (water)
VIC: 1800 500 509 website
WA: 1800 754 004 website
Fair Work Ombudsman (Fair Work):
13 13 94
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO): 1800 062 058
For complaints about Government agencies:
Commonwealth Ombudsman(includes private health insurance)
State Ombudsmen: VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, NT, WA, SA, TAS
No wrong door
Are you looking for a different dispute resolution or ombudsman service in Australia? Click on the links below to see who is available to help in each state.
Download: VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, NT, WA, SA, TAS
Lifeline
Lifeline provides all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to online, phone and face-to-face crisis support and suicide prevention services. Lifeline also helps with financial stress and problem gambling.
Tel: 13 11 14
