Greater numbers than usual of young people are accessing Salvation Army financial services during the coronavirus pandemic, the charity says.
Almost a third of more than 4500 people assisted by the organisation's Moneycare program between April and August were affected by either COVID-19 or bushfires.
"During COVID we have definitely seen a younger demographic coming forward," financial counsellor Kristen Hartnett said.
"We put that down to the casualised workforce they're in and that people haven't been in their employment for very long."
Ms Harnett said requests for assistance during the pandemic came in two broad waves, firstly mature workers followed by a surge of international students and temporary visa holders.
The roughly 1300 people who used the service because of either bushfires or COVID had contacted the Salvation Army for the first time, she said.
The program offers free financial counselling services, either remotely or in person, to help people get themselves out of financial difficulty.
"As the government supports pull back, we know more people will find themselves in need of assistance," Ms Harnett said.
The charity says two-thirds of people who use the counselling service said they no longer had problem debt afterwards.
Last financial year the program supported 13,757 people.
