Media release February 11, 2026 Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that funding for the Small Business Debt Helpline (SBDH) will be extended for a further 12 months, providing vital support for small business owners under increasing financial pressure. FCA CEO, Dr Domenique Meyrick, said the…
Case numbers For the 12 months ended 31 December 2025, the SBDH has provided 6,205 cases of assistance through phone and chat services. This is a 21% increase on the prior year. Since the service began in 2020 it has provided 18,533 cases of assistance to 16,254 unique businesses. …
Demand for the Small Business Debt Helpline (SBDH) continues to rise sharply, highlighting the growing financial and personal strain facing small business owners across Australia. For the 12 months to 31 December 2025, the Helpline provided more than 6,000 cases of assistance, representing a 21% increase on the previous year.…
Financial counsellors expect today’s interest rate rise, coupled with high living costs, to create even more distress for many of their clients struggling financially. “People are really doing it tough and having to make difficult decisions to cover every day living costs and pay their rent or mortgage,” said Dr…
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) has called on the Australian Government to strengthen access to financial counselling services to deal with rising demand, longer wait times and a growing complexity of cases. FCA has lodged a detailed submission seeking $19.85 million per year in targeted and sustainable Commonwealth investment. The increase in…
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) is warning communities across South East Queensland to be on high alert for so-called “disaster chasers”. Insurers have told FCA there is an increase in reports of disaster chasers in recent months following the November storm. Disaster chasers are often dodgy, opportunistic operators who appear after…
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) has today called for urgent reforms to Australia’s debt enforcement system after releasing its landmark report, “Who’s Making Australians Bankrupt? A follow-up report: six years on”. The original “Who’s making Australians bankrupt?” report was published in 2019. Since then, much has changed, including FCA’s ability to capture and analyse data. We…
With the festive season approaching and cost-of-living pressures continuing to affect households across the country, Beyond Blue and Financial Counselling Australia have launched a new free resource to help people manage their finances and look after their mental health. The Money and Mental Health Toolkit includes practical tips for managing…
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) is deeply concerned by reports the Albanese Government is preparing to abandon a total ban on online gambling advertising. FCA CEO, Dr Domenique Meyrick, said it was disappointing to see the voices of people harmed by gambling overshadowed by industry pressure. “Every day, financial counsellors speak with people…
Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) welcomes the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) new Vulnerability Framework as an important first step towards fairer treatment of people in financial difficulty but says the real test will be how it’s implemented. “The ATO’s Vulnerability Framework is an important step towards a fairer and more compassionate tax system.…