Family is a key source of support for many people, particularly in times of crisis. A large number of people access government and community-based financial assistance programs. These include:

Financial Resources for Australians, services and support to people who may need it, including income support payments, supplementary payments and concession cards that give cheaper health care. It also provides a range of other services, such as home equity loans and a voluntary bill paying service called Centrepay. You can check your eligibility and access Centrelink payment data at myGov.

Essential Financial Tools for Australians

There are a number of schemes that help businesses export their products. These include the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program, which supports marketing and promotional activities for small to medium export businesses. State and territory governments also offer export support schemes, such as the Tariff Concession System (TCS) scheme, which lets companies claim duty exemptions for certain types of imports. The free Grants & Assistance tool allows you to search by keywords to find these and other government grants.

There are a number of schemes that help people save for retirement and reduce the cost of aged care. These include the low income superannuation tax offset (LISTO), Saver Plus, and the matched savings scheme, which matches savings up to $500 per year. There are also a range of financial counselling services that can help. Seek help early, as it’s better to address money problems than allow them to deteriorate further.