Preparing financially
Free financial counselling
An independent, no-cost service for financial difficulty — not the same as a paid financial adviser.
- Financial counselling is free, independent and confidential.
- It's a genuinely different role from a licensed, paid financial adviser.
- The National Debt Helpline is the national free access point.
What a financial counsellor does — and doesn't do
A financial counsellor provides free, independent, confidential help for people experiencing financial difficulty — including negotiating with lenders, understanding your options, and connecting you with other support (National Debt Helpline (funded by state/territory governments), verified 29 Jul 2026). This is a genuinely different, and free, role from a financial adviser, who is a licensed professional providing paid advice on investments and broader financial planning (see the mortgage-brokers guide for a similar distinction with brokers).
Accessing free counselling
The National Debt Helpline is the national free financial counselling service — not tied to any lender or product, and not something you pay for or need a referral to access.
Practical checklist
Accessing financial counselling
- Contact the National Debt Helpline — no referral or payment needed
- Gather your income, expense and debt details before the call
Questions for a professional
Official resources
Sources and methodology
- National Debt Helpline — National Debt Helpline (funded by state/territory governments) (retrieved 29 Jul 2026)
Figures on this page are drawn from Delora's local knowledge graph, refreshed from these primary sources and checked for changes on a regular schedule. If a figure here looks out of date, the official source above is always the authority — please let us know.