Financial Shocks, Financial Stress and Financial Resilience of Australian Households during COVID-19

The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australian household finances and understand how the pandemic has had significant repercussions for household finances and behaviours toward saving and spending goals. Based on a national survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in December 2020, we report that financial shocks continued to hit low-income households and one-parent families with dependent children the hardest. The lowest-income households had to forfeit a week's worth of income on a less expensive shock but three times their weekly income to absorb a more expensive shock. The low-income households and one parent family with dependent children did well in following a budget, however, they were in a weak position when considering the ability to save regularly. The overall households also had a low rate of seeking financial information, counselling or advice from a professional. These findings will have implications for the policymakers and advisors who assist households in sustaining their finances and well-being.

Automated summary

The purpose of this article is to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australian household finances, with a focus on low-income households and one-parent families with dependent children. It was found that these groups were hit the hardest, having to forfeit a significant portion of their incomes to absorb financial shocks. While they were adept at budgeting, their ability to save regularly and seek financial information was weak.