National Debt Helpline Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

20 March , 2026

People in financial distress urged to seek help as interest rates rise

Today’s interest rate rise will add further pressure to Australians already struggling with housing costs and rising living expenses, with financial counsellors warning that more households may be pushed into financial distress. Demand for help is rising. In February there were?15,857 calls and online chats to the National Debt Helpline (NDH), the highest number recorded for the…

Free financial counselling available to those impacted by natural disasters

Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) is reminding those who may be impacted by Cyclone Alfred, there is free financial counselling available. “Weather disasters can lead to unexpected financial problems, and some may find themselves in financial hardship,” said Louise Hayes, FCA’s National Coordinator of Disaster Recovery. “It’s important to know there are financial counsellors who can…

Number of People Reaching Out to the NDH Increases

There’s been a significant increase in the number of people reaching out to the National Debt Helpline (NDH) over the past year. During 2024 more than 169,000 people called in or used the online chat tool to seek help from financial counsellors – a 12% increase on 2023. Total visits to the NDH website also…