Emergency Assistance

If you are in financial hardship and struggling to meet your basic needs, emergency assistance is available from services across Australia.

Information on this page
Please click the links below to visit each section

Emergency Relief Services
Bravery Trust – Veteran Support
Centrelink Support
Leaving Violence Program
Housing Assistance
Mental Health Crisis Support
Talk to a Financial Counsellor
Other Assistance Available
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If you’re in financial hardship or crisis, this page lists emergency financial assistance options and support services across Australia. Find help for:

  • Food and household bills
  • Defence Force veterans in financial hardship
  • Centrelink crisis and advance payments
  • People leaving family and domestic violence
  • Housing assistance for those homeless or at risk
  • Mental health support for people in crisis or feeling overwhelmed

At the bottom of this page, you’ll also find information about:

  • Utility grants and cost-of-living assistance
  • No Interest Loans (NILs) for essential goods and services
  • Other financial support programs

Need help now? Call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 for free, confidential advice.

Note: National Debt Helpline financial counsellors do not provide crisis support or emergency relief but they can refer you to services that can.

Emergency Relief Services – Food, Bills & Immediate Help

If you’re in financial crisis, emergency relief can help with immediate needs like:

✅ Food, transport, phone or chemist vouchers
✅ Rent or short-term accommodation
✅ Part-payment of utility bills
✅ Food parcels or clothing
✅ Budgeting help and referrals to other services

Where to find help:

🔍 Use Ask Izzy
📞 The Salvation Army: 13 72 58 | salvationarmy.org.au
📞 St Vincent de Paul Society: 13 18 12 | vinnies.org.au
📞 Anglicare: 1300 111 278 | anglicare.org.au

Or contact your local church or community centre

Tip: Explain your situation when you call. They’ll guide you through the process.

Bravery Trust – Support for Veterans

Bravery Trust helps injured Australian Defence Force veterans and their families in financial hardship. They provide:

✅ Financial aid
✅ Financial counselling
✅ Education support

Need help?
🌐 braverytrust.org.au
📞 Call 1800 272 837

Centrelink Support

Crisis Payment

If you’re in severe financial hardship and receive (or qualify for) a Centrelink income support payment or ABSTUDY Living Allowance, you may be eligible for a one-off Crisis Payment if you’ve experienced:

✅ Family & Domestic Violence
✅ Arrived in Australia as a humanitarian entrant
✅ Released from prison or psychiatric confinement
✅ Had to move due to fire, flood or community violence

Payment amount: Equal to one week of your income support payment.
Important: Contact Centrelink within 7 days of the event.
🌐 Services Australia – Crisis Payment

Advance Payment

If you receive a Centrelink income support payment or Family Tax Benefit (Part A), you may be able to get an advance payment:

✅ Paid as a lump sum
✅ Repaid over time from future payments
✅ Usually available twice a year
🌐 Services Australia – Advance Payment

Centrelink – other payments

If your income has dropped or your circumstances have changed, check what you’re eligible for:

✅ JobSeeker
✅ Rent Assistance
✅ Family Tax Benefit
✅ Health Care & Concession Cards

Use the Payment and Service Finder:
🌐 Centrelink – Payment and Service Finder

📌 See also: our page on Government Benefits

Leaving Violence Program

The Leaving Violence Program (formerly Escaping Violence Payment and Red Cross FDV Financial Assistance Program) helps people leave a partner who uses violence. This program offers:

✅ Up to $5,000 for essentials like housing, furniture, food, transport
✅ Practical support – safety planning, risk assessment, secure bank account
✅ Connections to health, legal and financial services

Who can apply?

  • 18+ and living in Australia
  • Australian citizen, permanent resident or visa holder
  • Experiencing violence and have left (or planning to leave)
  • In financial hardship and haven’t received this support in the last 12 months

How to apply:
🌐 leavingviolenceprogram.org.au
📞 Call 1800 253 283

Housing Assistance for Homeless or At-Risk People

If you’re homeless or at risk, services can help with:

✅ Emergency or short-term accommodation
✅ Rental bond assistance
✅ Applying for social housing
✅ Other housing support

Who to call in your state or territory:

Mental Health Crisis Support – Free 24/7 Help

If you’re in a personal crisis, feeling overwhelmed, or finding it hard to cope, free and confidential help is available 24/7.

Who to contact:

  • Lifeline – Crisis support
    📞 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au
    24/7 | Online chat available
  • 13YARN – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support
    📞 13 92 76 | 13yarn.org.au
    24/7 | Confidential one-on-one yarning
  • Beyond Blue – Anxiety & depression support
    📞 1300 224 636 | beyondblue.org.au
    24/7 | Online chat available
  • 1800RESPECT – Domestic, family & sexual violence counselling
    📞 1800 737 732 | 1800respect.org.au
    24/7 | Online chat available
  • ELDERHelp – Elder abuse phone line
    📞 1800 353 374 | Operating hours vary across states and territories
  • Kids Helpline – For ages 5–25
    📞 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpline.com.au
    24/7 | Online chat available
  • MensLine Australia – Support for men
    📞 1300 789 978 | mensline.org.au
    24/7 | Online chat available
  • Family Drug Support – Alcohol & other drugs
    📞 1300 368 186 | fds.org.au
    24/7 | Support for families of people who use substances
  • Gambling Help Online – National Gambling Helpline
    📞 1800 858 858 | gamblinghelponline.org.au
    24/7 | Online chat available

Talk to a Financial Counsellor

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by financial hardship, help is available. Our financial counsellors offer free, confidential, and independent advice – without judgment.

How to connect:

  • 📞 Call the National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007 (Weekdays, 9:30am–4:30pm)
  • 💬 Live Chat: Click the chat icon (bottom right) (Weekdays, 9:00am–8:00pm)
  • 📍 Find a local financial counsellor: Search here

Other assistance available

Utility relief grants and concessions

If you are struggling to pay your electricity, gas or water bills there are utility relief grants (or bill assistance) and concessions (or discounts) available from your state or territory government.  The eligibility requirements, type and amount of assistance varies from state to state.

Ask your electricity, gas or water provider for information about grants and concessions available or refer to your state or territory government website for more information.

Read more about utility bill hardship and assistance available on our Electricity, Gas & Water bills page.

State and Territory Government Assistance

Australian Capital Territory

  • The ACT Government has a range of discounts, rebates and subsidies to relieve cost of living pressures in areas like housing, transport, bills and dental care.
  • Use the ACT Government – Cost of Living Support page for a list of the savings that may be relevant to you and information on how to apply.


New South Wales

  • The NSW Government has a range of rebates and savings available to help ease the cost of living for NSW residents.  These include Toll Relief, Energy Rebates, Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) vouchers, the NSW Spectacles program and more.
  • See NSW Government – Savings Finder for more information or to use the Savings Finder to find rebates and savings you may be eligible for.


Northern Territory


Queensland

  • The QLD Government has a range of concessions and savings available to help ease the cost of living for QLD residents.  These include the Electricity Rebate Scheme, Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme, Bond loans and rental grants, Spectacle Supply Scheme, Oral health Scheme, and more.
  • See QLD Government – Cost of Living Support for more information.


South Australia

  • The SA Government has a range of concessions, benefits and grants available to help ease the cost of living for SA residents. These include energy bill concessions, School Card scheme, FuneralAssistanceSA, GlassesSA, and more.
  • See SA Government – Concessions and Grants for more information.


Tasmania

  • The Tasmanian government offers a wide range of discounts and concessions to individuals and households to help with the cost of living and access to essential services. These include annual electricity concession, private rental assistance, Student Assistance Scheme, Spectacles Assistance Scheme, and more.
  • See TAS Government – Discounts and Concessions for more information.


Victoria

  • A range of concessions and grants are available to Victorians who are on low incomes or experiencing hardship and need help meeting the cost of living. These include the Utility Relief Grant Scheme, MyPost Concession Account, Victorian Eyecare Service, Bereavement assistance, and more.
  • See VIC Government – Concessions and Benefits for more information.


Western Australia

  • The WA government offers a range of rebates, concessions and financial assistance to individuals to help meet the cost of certain household bills and other essential services.
  • See WA Government – ConcessionsWA for more information.

Mortgage Relief Scheme

The ACT and Queensland have government-funded mortgage relief schemes for home-owners struggling with short-term, severe financial hardship. In these schemes, interest-free loans are offered to cover arrears and some future payments.

Each of these states/territories has its own strict eligibility requirements. For more information, contact:

We recommend you speak to a financial counsellor if you believe you may benefit from one of these schemes.

Read more about mortgage hardship and assistance available on our Home loans page.

No Interest Loans (NILs)

No Interest Loans (NILs) provide access to safe, fair and affordable credit to people on low incomes.

There is no interest or fees charged on a No Interest Loan.  Ever.  You only pay back what you have borrowed.

You may be eligible to borrow up to $2,000 for the cost of essential goods and services including:

  • Household items, like appliances, whitegoods and furniture
  • Medical, dental, wellbeing and life event expenses
  • Technology like a computer or laptop (up to $2,000 limit)
  • Technology like a phone, tablet and all other electronic devices (up to $1,000 limit) 
  • Education expenses like fees or uniforms
  • Employment expenses like licences or equipment

You may be eligible to borrow up to $3,000 to pay for specific things such as:

  • Bond on a new property
  • Costs associated with a natural disaster

See our page on No Interest Loans for more information.

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You might feel overwhelmed, but you have options and there are steps you can take yourself. But if you feel you need a bit more guidance or need help quickly, simply call us.

CALL 1800 007 007