FIZO research, November 2026
Financial advice deserts: where Australia's advisers are, and where they are not
Australia has 15,522 registered financial advisers for 27,613,654 people: 5.62 per 10,000. They are not spread evenly. Half of all regions have fewer than 2.74 per 10,000, and in Western Sydney's Blacktown region there are 8 for 452,374 people.
Sydney - Blacktown: 8 registered financial advisers for 452,374 people, 0.18 per 10,000. The same region has 887 credit representatives, mostly mortgage brokers: 19.61 per 10,000, above the national 17.10.
Big regions with almost no advisers: Adelaide - North (SA) (26 for 492,185 people), Sydney - South West (NSW) (29 for 527,701 people), Melbourne - West (VIC) (85 for 980,300 people), Logan - Beaudesert (QLD) (42 for 420,157 people).
Where they cluster: Sydney - City and Inner South has 1,897 advisers, 51.32 per 10,000. Advisers are counted at their business address, so city centres rank high.
The 12 regions with the fewest advisers per person
Registered financial advisers per 10,000 people, ABS Statistical Area Level 4 regions.
| Region | People | Advisers | Per 10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Territory - Outback (NT) | 105,272 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Queensland - Outback (QLD) | 82,563 | 1 | 0.12 |
| Sydney - Blacktown (NSW) | 452,374 | 8 | 0.18 |
| South East (TAS) | 44,527 | 1 | 0.22 |
| Western Australia - Outback (North) (WA) | 102,732 | 3 | 0.29 |
| Adelaide - North (SA) | 492,185 | 26 | 0.53 |
| Sydney - South West (NSW) | 527,701 | 29 | 0.55 |
| Melbourne - West (VIC) | 980,300 | 85 | 0.87 |
| Moreton Bay - North (QLD) | 300,041 | 27 | 0.90 |
| Darling Downs - Maranoa (QLD) | 134,169 | 13 | 0.97 |
| Logan - Beaudesert (QLD) | 420,157 | 42 | 1.00 |
| Perth - North East (WA) | 324,644 | 35 | 1.08 |
By state and territory
Per 10,000 people. Tax and BAS agents are shown by state only, because the Tax Practitioners Board register does not give a postcode.
| State | Financial advisers | Credit reps | Tax agents | BAS agents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NT | 1.17 | 5.33 | 7.48 | 4.91 |
| TAS | 4.34 | 7.41 | 9.21 | 3.63 |
| WA | 5.25 | 13.10 | 14.04 | 6.28 |
| SA | 5.42 | 14.92 | 13.08 | 3.89 |
| NSW | 5.53 | 18.62 | 19.02 | 5.02 |
| ACT | 5.59 | 12.09 | 13.25 | 4.56 |
| QLD | 5.66 | 13.92 | 13.97 | 6.73 |
| VIC | 6.29 | 21.77 | 17.95 | 5.68 |
Every region
All 88 regions, fewest advisers per person first. Download the full table (CSV).
| Region | People | Advisers per 10,000 | Credit reps per 10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Territory - Outback (NT) | 105,272 | 0.00 | 1.90 |
| Queensland - Outback (QLD) | 82,563 | 0.12 | 1.09 |
| Sydney - Blacktown (NSW) | 452,374 | 0.18 | 19.61 |
| South East (TAS) | 44,527 | 0.22 | 7.64 |
| Western Australia - Outback (North) (WA) | 102,732 | 0.29 | 1.56 |
| Adelaide - North (SA) | 492,185 | 0.53 | 9.63 |
| Sydney - South West (NSW) | 527,701 | 0.55 | 13.44 |
| Melbourne - West (VIC) | 980,300 | 0.87 | 20.09 |
| Moreton Bay - North (QLD) | 300,041 | 0.90 | 6.53 |
| Darling Downs - Maranoa (QLD) | 134,169 | 0.97 | 3.20 |
| Logan - Beaudesert (QLD) | 420,157 | 1.00 | 6.26 |
| Perth - North East (WA) | 324,644 | 1.08 | 10.53 |
| Capital Region (NSW) | 248,376 | 1.13 | 7.37 |
| Western Australia - Wheat Belt (WA) | 149,617 | 1.14 | 8.22 |
| Ipswich (QLD) | 419,370 | 1.14 | 6.77 |
| Adelaide - South (SA) | 396,764 | 1.16 | 9.65 |
| Sydney - Outer South West (NSW) | 323,758 | 1.20 | 16.83 |
| Perth - South West (WA) | 519,389 | 1.25 | 10.65 |
| Mandurah (WA) | 127,502 | 1.25 | 6.59 |
| Sydney - Inner South West (NSW) | 642,157 | 1.26 | 16.51 |
| Sydney - Outer West and Blue Mountains (NSW) | 350,649 | 1.37 | 12.35 |
| Western Australia - Outback (South) (WA) | 128,306 | 1.40 | 4.75 |
| Melbourne - North West (VIC) | 473,116 | 1.54 | 18.26 |
| Barossa - Yorke - Mid North (SA) | 120,651 | 1.57 | 4.81 |
| South Australia - South East (SA) | 205,074 | 1.76 | 6.05 |
| Adelaide - West (SA) | 263,116 | 1.79 | 18.97 |
| Sydney - Inner West (NSW) | 324,297 | 1.85 | 27.84 |
| Darwin (NT) | 159,284 | 1.95 | 7.22 |
| Melbourne - North East (VIC) | 596,605 | 1.98 | 15.00 |
| South Australia - Outback (SA) | 85,925 | 1.98 | 5.00 |
| Moreton Bay - South (QLD) | 238,959 | 2.01 | 10.59 |
| Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven (NSW) | 165,285 | 2.12 | 11.80 |
| Hunter Valley exc Newcastle (NSW) | 316,250 | 2.12 | 5.03 |
| Far West and Orana (NSW) | 118,372 | 2.28 | 4.39 |
| Sydney - Parramatta (NSW) | 535,540 | 2.30 | 21.29 |
| Coffs Harbour - Grafton (NSW) | 152,331 | 2.36 | 5.97 |
| Wide Bay (QLD) | 335,670 | 2.38 | 4.68 |
| Melbourne - South East (VIC) | 958,772 | 2.40 | 25.45 |
| Brisbane - North (QLD) | 244,037 | 2.42 | 15.41 |
| Hume (VIC) | 189,765 | 2.42 | 6.64 |
| Central West (NSW) | 216,979 | 2.67 | 5.76 |
| Central Queensland (QLD) | 244,220 | 2.70 | 5.69 |
| Melbourne - Outer East (VIC) | 536,368 | 2.72 | 17.19 |
| Latrobe - Gippsland (VIC) | 313,733 | 2.74 | 8.48 |
| Brisbane - East (QLD) | 258,510 | 2.75 | 10.68 |
| Sydney - Ryde (NSW) | 218,606 | 2.79 | 36.09 |
| Perth - South East (WA) | 611,748 | 2.91 | 11.36 |
| Perth - North West (WA) | 657,092 | 2.92 | 14.70 |
| Mornington Peninsula (VIC) | 317,586 | 3.05 | 10.74 |
| Mid North Coast (NSW) | 239,566 | 3.09 | 4.72 |
| Cairns (QLD) | 271,408 | 3.13 | 8.81 |
| Richmond - Tweed (NSW) | 265,824 | 3.16 | 8.69 |
| Central Coast (NSW) | 357,816 | 3.19 | 11.51 |
| New England and North West (NSW) | 191,401 | 3.24 | 4.28 |
| North West (VIC) | 153,762 | 3.25 | 6.11 |
| Bunbury (WA) | 210,962 | 3.27 | 8.82 |
| Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday (QLD) | 193,813 | 3.30 | 5.57 |
| West and North West (TAS) | 120,091 | 3.33 | 6.16 |
| Bendigo (VIC) | 173,769 | 3.40 | 7.65 |
| Launceston and North East (TAS) | 156,393 | 3.58 | 7.93 |
| Shepparton (VIC) | 138,645 | 3.61 | 8.80 |
| Riverina (NSW) | 166,404 | 3.91 | 11.00 |
| Townsville (QLD) | 249,097 | 4.01 | 5.26 |
| Sydney - Eastern Suburbs (NSW) | 280,449 | 4.03 | 18.97 |
| Brisbane - South (QLD) | 412,436 | 4.29 | 21.02 |
| Ballarat (VIC) | 184,285 | 4.56 | 11.88 |
| Brisbane - West (QLD) | 204,443 | 4.79 | 24.21 |
| Illawarra (NSW) | 330,469 | 4.90 | 9.65 |
| Murray (NSW) | 130,078 | 5.23 | 6.84 |
| Melbourne - Inner South (VIC) | 454,338 | 5.41 | 20.49 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 484,630 | 5.53 | 11.39 |
| Warrnambool and South West (VIC) | 128,320 | 5.53 | 6.94 |
| Geelong (VIC) | 355,990 | 5.65 | 13.01 |
| Sydney - Northern Beaches (NSW) | 272,656 | 5.65 | 16.10 |
| Hobart (TAS) | 255,250 | 5.84 | 7.56 |
| Sunshine Coast (QLD) | 441,508 | 6.32 | 14.45 |
| Sydney - Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury (NSW) | 295,667 | 6.39 | 42.82 |
| Sydney - Sutherland (NSW) | 240,174 | 6.95 | 19.11 |
| Toowoomba (QLD) | 175,707 | 7.11 | 10.36 |
| Gold Coast (QLD) | 708,085 | 7.87 | 24.59 |
| Newcastle and Lake Macquarie (NSW) | 412,359 | 9.02 | 11.08 |
| Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby (NSW) | 447,312 | 11.18 | 36.62 |
| Melbourne - Inner East (VIC) | 405,012 | 12.10 | 37.41 |
| Adelaide - Central and Hills (SA) | 338,950 | 24.72 | 37.06 |
| Melbourne - Inner (VIC) | 713,493 | 32.24 | 56.12 |
| Brisbane Inner City (QLD) | 335,571 | 37.61 | 43.98 |
| Perth - Inner (WA) | 212,390 | 47.08 | 44.68 |
| Sydney - City and Inner South (NSW) | 369,674 | 51.32 | 68.47 |
If you live in one of these areas
Many advisers work with clients by phone and video, so a thin local count does not mean no help. Whoever you choose, check they are on the register first. FIZO's free register check searches ASIC and the Tax Practitioners Board in one go, and you can find a register-checked financial adviser or mortgage broker near you.
If money is tight, the National Debt Helpline is free and confidential: 1800 007 007.
FIZO does not give financial advice and does not recommend any adviser or product.
How the figures were made
- Advisers: current registered financial advisers on the ASIC Financial Advisers Register, as at FIZO's register check of 3 November 2026, counted at the postcode of their business address.
- Credit representatives: current entries on ASIC's credit representative register, same date, same method. Most are mortgage brokers.
- Tax and BAS agents: the Tax Practitioners Board register, same date, by state.
- Population: ABS Estimated Resident Population at 30 June 2025, by SA4 region and state.
- Regions: ABS Statistical Area Level 4 (ASGS 2021). Each postcode is assigned to the region that contains its centre, which is close but not exact where a postcode crosses a boundary. 2,641 of 2,644 postcodes were placed; 66 advisers in the other three are left out. Other Territories (Jervis Bay, Christmas and Cocos Islands, about 5,000 people) are left out of the region tables.
- Limits: the register records where an adviser's business is, not where they live or where their clients are. Advisers based in a city centre often serve the suburbs around it.
Free to cite with credit to FIZO and a link to this page (CC BY 4.0). Questions to admin@fizo.com.au.
Questions
What is a financial advice desert?
An area where very few registered financial advisers are based for the number of people who live there. Across Australia there are 5.62 registered advisers per 10,000 people. In the median region there are 2.74. In the lowest regions there are fewer than 1.
Which region has the fewest financial advisers per person?
Outside the remote regions, Sydney - Blacktown in Western Sydney: 8 registered financial advisers are based there for 452,374 people, 0.18 per 10,000. Northern Territory - Outback has none on the register at all.
Does this mean people in these areas cannot get advice?
No. Advisers can work with clients anywhere, and many meet by video. The figures show where advisers are based, from the business address on the ASIC Financial Advisers Register, not where their clients live. They show where local, face-to-face help is thin.
How can I check a financial adviser is registered?
Search their name on FIZO's free register check, or on ASIC's Financial Advisers Register on Moneysmart. Every financial adviser who gives personal advice to retail clients must be on it.
Can I use these figures?
Yes, free, with credit to FIZO and a link to this page. The full table for every region is a free download below.
See also the FIZO Index, what Australians search for about money each month, and how FIZO checks every listing.