Who's who in debt & credit
100 plain-English profiles of the regulators, courts, ombudsman schemes, free support services and industry bodies relevant to debt and credit in Australia — what each one does and when to turn to it. Search or filter.
- Regulators & Agencies
ASIC — Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Australia's corporate and consumer credit regulator overseeing lenders and credit conduct.
8 min read - Regulators & Agencies
ACCC — Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
National competition and consumer regulator enforcing the Australian Consumer Law.
8 min read - Regulators & Agencies
OAIC — Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
National privacy regulator overseeing personal information and credit reporting.
8 min read - Regulators & Agencies
AUSTRAC — Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre
Financial intelligence agency and anti-money-laundering regulator for Australia.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
ATO — Australian Taxation Office
Administers Australia's tax system and manages tax debts and payment plans.
8 min read - Regulators & Agencies
APRA — Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
Prudential regulator overseeing the safety and soundness of banks and insurers.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
RBA — Reserve Bank of Australia
Australia's central bank, setting monetary policy and overseeing the payments system.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
The Treasury (Australian Government)
Commonwealth economic department shaping financial, credit and consumer policy.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
AFSA — Australian Financial Security Authority
Administers Australia's personal insolvency system, including bankruptcy.
8 min read - Regulators & Agencies
Fair Work Ombudsman
Regulator promoting compliance with workplace laws, including unpaid entitlements.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
Moneysmart (ASIC)
ASIC's free consumer guidance service on money, debt and credit.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
business.gov.au (Australian Government)
Government information service guiding businesses on obligations and finances.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
NSW Fair Trading
New South Wales consumer protection agency handling fair-trading disputes.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
Consumer Affairs Victoria
Victoria's consumer protection regulator assisting with disputes and rights.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
Office of Fair Trading (Queensland)
Queensland consumer protection agency handling fair-trading matters.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
Consumer and Business Services (South Australia)
South Australia's consumer protection and business regulation agency.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
Consumer Protection (Western Australia)
Western Australia's consumer affairs agency assisting with disputes and rights.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
Access Canberra (ACT)
ACT Government service delivering consumer protection and fair trading.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
NT Consumer Affairs (Northern Territory)
Northern Territory consumer protection function assisting with disputes.
7 min read - Regulators & Agencies
Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (Tasmania)
Tasmania's consumer protection and occupational regulation function.
7 min read - Courts & Tribunals
Federal Court of Australia
Superior federal court handling corporate, commercial, and insolvency matters, including company winding up.
7 min - Courts & Tribunals
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Federal court hearing general federal law and family matters, including some bankruptcy and consumer disputes.
7 min - Courts & Tribunals
High Court of Australia
Australia's highest court and final court of appeal; not a venue for ordinary debt claims.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
Supreme Court of New South Wales
NSW's highest court; hears high-value civil claims and complex commercial and insolvency matters.
7 min - Courts & Tribunals
District Court of New South Wales
NSW's intermediate court; hears mid-range civil claims, including many debt matters above the Local Court limit.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
Local Court of New South Wales
NSW's first-tier court; hears smaller civil and debt claims, with a Small Claims Division for low-value matters.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)
NSW tribunal resolving consumer, tenancy, and administrative disputes through accessible, lower-cost processes.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
County Court of Victoria
Victoria's intermediate trial court; hears civil claims, including substantial commercial and debt disputes.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Victoria's first-tier court; hears smaller civil and debt claims through accessible procedures.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
Victorian tribunal resolving consumer, tenancy, and administrative disputes through accessible, lower-cost processes.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
District Court of Queensland
Queensland's intermediate court; hears mid-range civil claims, including debt matters above the Magistrates limit.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
Magistrates Court of Queensland
Queensland's first-tier court; hears smaller civil and debt claims, with a simplified minor debt process.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT)
Queensland tribunal resolving minor debt, consumer, and administrative disputes through accessible processes.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
Magistrates Court of South Australia
South Australia's first-tier court; hears smaller civil and debt claims, with a minor civil claims process.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT)
South Australian tribunal resolving tenancy, administrative, and review matters through accessible processes.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
Magistrates Court of Western Australia
Western Australia's first-tier court; hears smaller civil and debt claims, with a minor cases process.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia (SAT)
Western Australian tribunal handling administrative review and various civil matters outside the courts.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT)
ACT tribunal resolving civil claims, tenancy, and administrative matters, including certain debts, accessibly.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT)
Northern Territory tribunal resolving tenancy, consumer, and administrative matters through accessible processes.
6 min - Courts & Tribunals
Magistrates Court of Tasmania
Tasmania's first-tier court; hears smaller civil and debt claims, with a minor civil claims process.
6 min - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA)
AFCA is Australia's free, independent EDR scheme for complaints about financial firms, including credit and debt.
8 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO)
The TIO resolves disputes about phone and internet services, including billing and disconnection, free for consumers.
7 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Commonwealth Ombudsman
The Commonwealth Ombudsman investigates complaints about Australian Government agencies, free and independently.
7 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON)
EWON resolves electricity, gas and water complaints in NSW, including disconnection and billing, free to use.
7 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Energy and Water Ombudsman (Victoria) — EWOV
EWOV resolves electricity, gas and water complaints in Victoria, including billing and disconnection, free to use.
7 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland (EWOQ)
EWOQ resolves electricity, gas and water complaints in Queensland, including billing and disconnection, free to use.
7 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Energy and Water Ombudsman (SA) — EWOSA
EWOSA resolves South Australian electricity, gas and water complaints, including billing and disconnection, free to use.
7 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Energy and Water Ombudsman (WA)
The WA energy and water ombudsman resolves utility complaints, including billing and disconnection, free to use.
7 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
NSW Ombudsman
The NSW Ombudsman handles complaints about NSW state agencies and certain services, independently and free.
6 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Victorian Ombudsman
The Victorian Ombudsman handles complaints about Victorian state agencies and councils, independently and free.
6 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Queensland Ombudsman
The Queensland Ombudsman handles complaints about Queensland state agencies and councils, independently and free.
6 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Ombudsman SA
Ombudsman SA handles complaints about South Australian state agencies and councils, independently and free.
6 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Ombudsman Western Australia
The WA Ombudsman handles complaints about Western Australian state agencies and local governments, free to use.
6 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
ACT Ombudsman
The ACT Ombudsman handles complaints about ACT government agencies, independently and free for the public.
6 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Northern Territory Ombudsman
The NT Ombudsman handles complaints about Northern Territory agencies and councils, independently and free.
6 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Tasmanian Ombudsman
The Tasmanian Ombudsman handles complaints about Tasmanian agencies and councils, independently and free.
6 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman
This function helps resolve private health insurance complaints, including premiums and benefits, free for consumers.
6 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Public Transport Ombudsman (Victoria)
This scheme resolves Victorian public transport complaints, including ticketing and fares, free for travellers.
6 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO)
The IGTO handles complaints about tax administration in Australia, independently and free for the public.
7 min read - Ombudsman & Dispute Resolution
External Dispute Resolution (EDR) Explained
A plain-English guide to how Australian ombudsman and EDR schemes work and how to pick the right one.
8 min read - Support & Help Services
National Debt Helpline
Free national phone service connecting you with professional financial counsellors who help with debt.
6 min - Support & Help Services
Financial Counselling Australia
National peak body for financial counsellors; supports free help and runs key consumer services.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Mob Strong Debt Help
Free, culturally safe legal help for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with money problems.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Financial Rights Legal Centre
Specialist community legal centre for consumer credit, debt, banking and insurance problems.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Consumer Action Law Centre
Victorian consumer legal centre with free advice on debt, credit and unfair practices.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Legal Aid NSW
Government-funded legal help in NSW, including debt, consumer and credit advice.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Victoria Legal Aid
Government-funded legal help in Victoria, including debt, fines and consumer credit advice.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Legal Aid Queensland
Government-funded legal help in Queensland, including debt, consumer and credit advice.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Legal Aid Western Australia
Government-funded legal help in Western Australia, including debt and consumer advice.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Legal Services Commission of South Australia
Government-funded legal help in South Australia, including debt and consumer advice.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Community Legal Centres
Independent not-for-profit centres offering free local legal help, including on debt matters.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Salvation Army Moneycare
The Salvation Army's free financial counselling service for people struggling with debt.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Good Shepherd
Not-for-profit offering financial wellbeing programs, including affordable loans and counselling.
5 min - Support & Help Services
No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS)
Safe, fair loans with no interest or fees for people on low incomes to buy essentials.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Way Forward Debt Solutions
Free not-for-profit service helping people manage and repay debt through a tailored plan.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Lifeline
24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention service for anyone struggling, including with money.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Beyond Blue
National mental health service supporting people with anxiety, depression and stress, including money worries.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Services Australia
Government agency delivering Centrelink and related payments and support during hardship.
5 min - Support & Help Services
Ask Izzy
Free online directory to find nearby help for housing, food, money and other support.
4 min - Support & Help Services
Financial Counselling Explained
Plain-English guide to free financial counselling — what it is, what counsellors do, how to start.
6 min - Industry & Professional Bodies
Australian Institute of Credit Management (AICM)
AICM is the professional body for Australian credit managers, offering education, certification and member networking.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association (ARITA)
ARITA is the professional body for insolvency and restructuring practitioners, providing education and standards.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Australian Finance Industry Association (AFIA)
AFIA is an industry body representing finance providers across consumer, commercial and fleet finance in Australia.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
CPA Australia
CPA Australia is a major professional accounting body offering the CPA designation, education and standards.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
CA ANZ is a professional body for chartered accountants in Australia and New Zealand, offering the CA designation.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
The IPA is a professional accounting body in Australia, often serving accountants who work with small business.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Law Council of Australia
The Law Council of Australia is the national peak body representing the legal profession through its constituent bodies.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Law Society of New South Wales
The Law Society of NSW is the professional body for solicitors in New South Wales, supporting members and the public.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Law Institute of Victoria (LIV)
The Law Institute of Victoria is the professional body for solicitors in Victoria, supporting members and the public.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Queensland Law Society (QLS)
The Queensland Law Society is the professional body for solicitors in Queensland, supporting members and the public.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Governance Institute of Australia
The Governance Institute of Australia is a professional body for governance, risk and compliance practitioners.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Australian Industry Group (Ai Group)
Ai Group is a national employer and industry association representing businesses across many sectors.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
ACCI is a peak national business association representing chambers of commerce and industry associations.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA)
COSBOA is a peak body advocating for small business and the organisations that represent small businesses.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Australian Banking Association (ABA)
The ABA is the industry association for banks in Australia, known for its banking code of practice.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA)
COBA is the industry association for customer-owned banks, mutual banks and credit unions in Australia.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA)
The MFAA is the professional and industry body for mortgage and finance brokers in Australia.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Australian Collectors & Debt Buyers Association (ACDBA)
The ACDBA is an industry association for debt collectors and debt buyers operating in Australia.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Restructuring, Insolvency & Turnaround Profession (Australia)
An overview of Australia's restructuring, insolvency and turnaround profession and the bodies that support it.
6 min read - Industry & Professional Bodies
Australian Credit Industry Association (Overview)
An overview of Australia's credit industry and the associations that support credit reporting and management.
6 min read
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