A Financial Counsellor is a person who can assist you with a range of services relating to personal finances.
Financial Counselling is an opportunity to have a free and confidential chat with a qualified person about your finances.
Services Include:
- Financial rights and responsibilities
- Budgeting and money management
- Negotiating with creditors and others
- Debts and the debt recovery processes
- Hardship applications if your situation has changed
- Insolvency and bankruptcy options
Lutheran Care Financial Counselling services Northern Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley & Light region.
The Gambling Helpline provides round the clock counselling, support and information to anyone affected by gambling, including family and friends. It can help you manage with crises, relapses, and other personal issues. Interpreters and face to face referrals can be organised when required. The service is free, confidential and non-judgmental.
Gambling Help Online gives people access to counselling and information when they are unable or reluctant to access face to face services. They provide:
- Free 24/7 chat and email counselling; and support services;
- Professional counsellors with expertise in problem gambling;
- A stepping stone for further help, including telephone and face-to-face support; and
- Extensive website content, self-help information and weblinks for additional support.
Please call 1800 858 858 or go to Gambling Help Online for support.
Good Money Stores support people to make responsible and sustainable financial decisions.
Good Money Stores are community financial support centres that offer safe, affordable and responsible financial help for people on low incomes. They provide guidance through financial capability workers and counsellors.
Supports Include
- Support from financial capability workers and counsellors to help you make responsible financial decisions
- Referrals to other services such as financial counselling, Legal Aid and Centrelink support
- Help applying for loans for essentials like household items, technology, car repairs, medical and education costs
- Guidance and support tailored to your situation and financial goals
- Access to No Interest Loans (NILs) for essential items and needs with no interest, no fees and no hidden charges
The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP Loans) assist students to pay for course fees and other services to support them in their studies.
There are four main HELP Loans:
- HECS-HELP
- FEE-HELP
- SA-HELP
- OS-HELP
Eligibility for each HELP Loan differs depending on your circumstances. Application forms are only available through your education provider, who will assess your eligibility.
As this is a loan, it will be repayable when your earning capacity reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.
Visit the Study Assist website for further information or contact them via the online 'contact us' form below.
The Home Equity Access Scheme: Enhancing Your Retirement with a Voluntary Loan
The Home Equity Access Scheme provides older Australians with the opportunity to supplement their retirement income through a voluntary, non-taxable loan offered by the Australian Government. The scheme allows you to use the equity in your Australian property as collateral while continuing to live in your home.
You can find information about eligibility, loan estimates, and how the scheme works on the official website.
Services include:
- Enhancing retirement funds by accessing additional financial resoources
- Information available to make informed decisions about securing financial future
- Available to Australians of Age Pension age or older, including both pensioners and non‑pensioners who meet the eligibility criteria.
A help-line for consumers that provides advice on the following:
- Home building and or contents insurance
- Consumer credit insurance
- Life insurance
- Funeral insurance
- Pet insurance
- Income protection insurance
- Superannuation related insurance
- Travel insurance
- Motor vehicle insurance (other than CTP)
- Debts to insurance companies in relation to motor vehicle accidents
For further information call 1300 663 464 or visit the website
Current hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 12.30pm.
There are many different phone providers and mobile plans on offer, and choosing the right one that suits your needs can be difficult.
The ACCC website provides information on how to understand different plans, and things to consider when you are shopping for mobile phones and services. The website also provides information about consumer rights and guarantees, and how to make a complaint if you have a problem with your mobile phone service.
Visit the website, or contact ACCC via the link below.
Develop your money skills for free with MoneyMinded
MoneyMinded is a free, flexible financial education program that helps adults build the knowledge, confidence, and skills to make informed money decisions and improve their financial wellbeing. The program provides practical guidance on budgeting, reducing debt, and saving regularly.
Services include:
- Developing practical skills for budgeting, saving, reducing debt, and planning for the future
- Offering interactive online activities that users can complete at their own pace
- Covering core financial topics such as money planning, everyday banking, credit and loans, managing bills, and superannuation
- Including specialised modules — such as scams awareness and digital confidence — to help people protect themselves and use financial services safely
- Providing resources that are culturally adaptable and usable by community organisations, educators, and counsellors
- Being available to anyone — you don’t need to be an ANZ customer, and the program does not promote ANZ products
Moneysmart helps all Australians take control of their money and build a better life with free tools, tips and guides. MoneySmart was created by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), the Australian Government's corporate regulator.
Moneysmart has information about managing your money and reducing debt. It provides tools and resources to help you do this such as a budget planner.