Get your personal records
This is an FOI guide for information Services Australia, the Department of Employment and job agencies hold to understand decisions made about you including payment suspensions.
Request an energy debt waiver
Use this letter template to request that your energy company waive outstanding debts you can’t afford to pay.
Need help with “mutual” obligations?
If you need support with your (un)employment services provider, unfair treatment or requirements, email us at help@welfarecopwatch.org
Getting support
Mental health support
The Antipoverty Centre is unable to offer crisis support. We know the services below are imperfect, and that you may not feel comfortable contacting them. If you are feeling distress and do not want to access formal help please reach out to someone in your life. This could be a close friend or family member, or someone in your online community.
| Organisation | Call | Online chat | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suicide Call Back Service | 1300 659 467 | Yes | suicidecallbackservice.org.au |
| SANE Australia | 1800 187 263 | Yes | sane.org |
| Headspace – youth | 1800 650 890 | Yes | headspace.org.au |
| Full Stop – harassment and assault | 1800 385 578 | Yes | fullstop.org.au |
| 1800 RESPECT – harassment and assault | 1800 737 732 | Yes | 1800respect.org.au |
| MensLine | 1300 789 978 | Yes | mensline.org.au |
| WellMob – First Nations | No | wellmob.org.au | |
| Brother to Brother – First Nations men | 1800 435 799 | No | dardimunwurro.com.au |
| QLife – LGBTQIA+ | 1800 184 527 | Yes | qlife.org.au |
| Embrace Mental Health – multilingual | No | embracementalhealth.org.au |
Financial assistance
We know it’s not possible to budget your way out of poverty. People on low incomes are the best budgeters in the country. Even though they cannot provide cash, financial counsellors may be able to assist you if you are in debt. They may be able to help negotiate with your electricity provider or other organisation to waive some of what you owe or allow you to pay it off over a longer period. To find a financial counsellor contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 or visit their website.
Need food?
If you enter your postcode here you can find a list of local community kitchens that serve warm & fresh meals at different times of the day.
Legal help
What to do if you receive a Centrelink debt notice
If you receive a debt notice immediately contact a welfare rights community legal centre. It’s free and you can find the relevant legal centre in your area on the Economic Justice Australia website.
Although Robodebt has ended, many debt notices issued are inaccurate. Even if you receive an accurate debt, it can be waived in certain circumstances, including: “the physical and emotional state of the person together with their decision-making capacity and financial circumstances…”. You can find more information about debt waivers here.
The ACCC and ASIC debt collection guideline lists unemployment and low income as reasons a debt collector should not continue pursuing a person. You can find the guideline here.