Money Worries as a Student in Melbourne or Brisbane: Free Financial Counselling and Support Services

What financial counselling actually is Financial counselling is a free, confidential service from not-for-profit organisations. According to the Australian Government’s Moneysmart website, financial counsellors are skilled professionals who help people who are struggling with bills and debt. A financial counsellor can:

• look at your whole situation and explain your options;

• talk to creditors, landlords or government agencies on your behalf;

• help if a debt collector is contacting you;

• refer you to legal, housing, food or crisis services when you need them.

They do not judge you, and they do not give legal advice. If you are facing legal action, Moneysmart says to seek free legal advice straight away. Who to contact first National Debt Helpline (Melbourne and Brisbane) The National Debt Helpline is a free, independent and confidential service for people in Australia who are dealing with financial difficulty and debt.

• Phone: 1800 007 007 (9:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday)

• Web chat: 9 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday, at ndh.org.au

• Cost: free

You can also use the Moneysmart financial counselling page to search for a service by suburb or postcode. Evantaa Student Welfare If you are an Evantaa student, start with our welfare team. They give confidential support for personal welfare, housing, transport and other concerns, and can connect you to external services at no cost.

• Email: support@evantaa.edu.au

• Melbourne: (03) 7068 8413

• Brisbane: (07) 2146 3166

Questions about fees or payments can go to accounts@evantaa.edu.au . You can read more on our Student Services page . 1800QSTUDY (Queensland) The Queensland Government runs the 1800QSTUDY hotline for international students. It is open 24 hours a day, with after-hours support and translation services. It is not an emergency line, so call 000 in an emergency.

• Phone: 1800 778 839

Free food and groceries in Melbourne Study Melbourne lists several free food options for international students. Its page was last updated on 14 September 2026. Finding food and support in Brisbane We could not find a single official list of free food services for international students in Brisbane, so use these general tools instead:

• Foodbank food finder: enter your location and choose Queensland at findfood.foodbank.org.au .

• Ask Izzy: a website run by not-for-profit Infoxchange. It lets you search more than 450,000 services for food, housing, financial support, mental health and more, near you.

• Your education provider: many providers offer emergency support. Ask your welfare team first.

For mental health support, Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue is on 1300 22 4636. Headspace offers free support for people aged 12 to 25. How to avoid paid “debt fix” services Moneysmart warns that legitimate financial counselling is always free. Businesses that charge a fee for debt help are usually refinancing or debt management companies, not financial counsellors. Before you share personal details or sign anything, ask:

• Is this service free, and is it a not-for-profit?

• Why are they asking for money upfront?

• Can I take the paperwork home and talk to a welfare officer first?

Small steps you can take this week

• Write down what you owe, to whom, and when each payment is due.

• Call the National Debt Helpline or your welfare team and explain your situation in plain words. You do not need to have every detail ready.

• A financial counsellor can help you talk to the people you owe, such as a landlord or phone company.

• Look up free food options near you so groceries stop being the biggest stress.

• Read our tips on cooking on a student budget to stretch what you have.