Free Legal Help in Australia

Where to get free, official help in Australia — the Fair Work Ombudsman, consumer and data regulators, Scamwatch, the financial-complaints authority, Home Affairs, the human-rights commission, the family court and the tax office. State tenancy tribunals and health commissioners are noted where relevant.

In immediate danger? Dial 000.

Work & employment

Know your rights →

Fair Work Ombudsman

Government

Free advice, investigation and enforcement for every employment complaint — unpaid wages, entitlements, sham contracting. Unfair dismissal goes to the Fair Work Commission.

Legal basis Fair Work Act 2009

How to reach Get free help from the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or its Pay Calculator; lodge an unfair-dismissal claim with the Fair Work Commission (fwc.gov.au) within 21 days — the deadline is strict.

Call: 13 13 94
Online: www.fairwork.gov.au
Languages: English
Cost: Free

Who it's for: Employees, including migrant workers.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Housing & tenancy

Know your rights →

State tenancy tribunal (VCAT / NCAT / QCAT)

Tribunal

Each state runs a low-fee tribunal for residential-tenancy disputes — bond return, repairs, rent, eviction. Bonds are held by the state bond authority.

Legal basis State Residential Tenancies Acts

How to reach File a tenancy dispute at your state tribunal (VCAT in Victoria, NCAT in NSW, QCAT in Queensland, etc.); fee waivers exist for low-income tenants. Keep your lease and condition report.

Online: www.vcat.vic.gov.au
Languages: English
Cost: Low fee

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Consumer & shopping

Know your rights →

ACCC

Government

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission

Consumer rights under the Australian Consumer Law — refunds, guarantees, unsafe products; individual disputes go to your state Fair Trading office and tribunal (VCAT/NCAT/QCAT).

Legal basis Australian Consumer Law (Competition and Consumer Act 2010)

How to reach Report a trader to the ACCC or your state Fair Trading / Consumer Affairs office; unresolved money disputes go to the state civil tribunal (VCAT, NCAT, QCAT, etc.).

Online: www.accc.gov.au
Languages: English
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

Government

Income tax, super and GST — lodging, refunds and disputes; objections and appeals go to the Administrative Review Tribunal.

Legal basis Income Tax Assessment Act

How to reach Lodge and manage tax via myGov/ATO; object to an assessment, and escalate unresolved service issues to the Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman.

Online: www.ato.gov.au
Languages: English
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Scams, fraud & money recovery

Know your rights →

Scamwatch / ReportCyber

Government

Report scams to the National Anti-Scam Centre (Scamwatch) and cybercrime to ReportCyber (ACSC); bank and insurance disputes go to AFCA.

Legal basis Australian Consumer Law and the Criminal Code

How to reach Report to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and, for cybercrime, ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au); contact your bank immediately. Unresolved financial disputes go free to AFCA (afca.org.au).

Online: www.scamwatch.gov.au
Languages: English
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Data privacy & digital

Know your rights →

OAIC

Government

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

Complaints about how organisations handle your personal data — breaches, misuse, refused access — under the Privacy Act.

Legal basis Privacy Act 1988

How to reach Complain to the organisation first (they have 30 days); if unresolved, lodge a privacy complaint with the OAIC.

Online: www.oaic.gov.au
Languages: English
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Police & criminal justice

Know your rights →

Police / Commonwealth Ombudsman

Government

Report crime to state/territory police or the Australian Federal Police; complaints about police conduct go to the state police-oversight body or the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

Legal basis State and Commonwealth criminal law

How to reach Dial 000 in an emergency; report crime to your state police. Complain about police conduct to your state oversight body (e.g., NSW LECC) or the Commonwealth Ombudsman for the AFP.

Call: 000 (emergency)
Online: www.afp.gov.au/contact-us/your-rights
Languages: English
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Immigration & residency

Know your rights →

Department of Home Affairs

Government

Visas, citizenship and immigration status; visa decisions can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).

Legal basis Migration Act 1958

How to reach Apply for and manage visas via ImmiAccount; a refusal can be reviewed by the ART (art.gov.au) within a strict deadline. Use a registered migration agent, not an unlicensed one.

Online: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Languages: English
Cost: Low fee

Who it's for: Visa holders and applicants.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Family

Know your rights →

Federal Circuit and Family Court (FCFCOA)

Tribunal

Divorce, parenting and property; family-dispute-resolution (mediation) is generally required before court, via Family Relationships Online.

Legal basis Family Law Act 1975

How to reach Try family dispute resolution first (familyrelationships.gov.au / 1800 050 321); file divorce and parenting matters with the FCFCOA. Legal Aid commissions help those who qualify.

Online: www.fcfcoa.gov.au/fl/divorce
Languages: English
Cost: Low fee

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Healthcare

Know your rights →

Department of Health / Health Complaints

Government

Medicare and the PBS via Services Australia; complaints about a health service go to your state Health Complaints Commissioner, and private-health-insurance disputes to the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

Legal basis Health Insurance Act and state health-complaints legislation

How to reach For Medicare/PBS use Services Australia; complain about a provider to your state Health Complaints Commissioner (e.g., NSW HCCC), and about private health insurance to the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

Online: www.health.gov.au
Languages: English
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

General help & advocacy

Australian Human Rights Commission

Government

Free complaints and conciliation for discrimination in work, services and housing (race, sex, disability, age); state anti-discrimination bodies also take complaints.

Legal basis Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 and the discrimination Acts

How to reach Lodge a free complaint with the AHRC (or your state anti-discrimination body); it conciliates, and unresolved matters can go to the federal court.

Online: humanrights.gov.au/complaints/make-complaint
Languages: English
Cost: Free

Who it's for: Anyone facing discrimination.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

This is legal information, not legal advice — a directory of official, free channels, not an endorsement. Hotlines and links can change; each entry shows the date we last verified it. If a number or page no longer works, tell us on the contact form.