Visit our dedicated small business restructuring site for small business owners facing financial distress.
Help with financial adversity, Australia-wide
Confidential advice, wherever you are in Australia
Not near one of our offices? If you're struggling with debt or worried about what comes next, we're here to help. We provide confidential advice by phone and video to individuals, families and business owners anywhere in Australia. We'll help you understand where you stand, explore your options and find a practical way forward.
Australia-wide by phone and video · Offices in Sydney CBD, Mid-North Coast and Northern Beaches · Registered liquidator and bankruptcy trustee · Direct access to the practitioner · 25+ years in insolvency
Support wherever you are
When you’re facing financial pressure, distance shouldn’t decide who you can talk to. Most of an insolvency process is conversation and paperwork, and both work just as well by phone or video.
Wherever you are in Australia. Speak with Thyge from home, work or anywhere you’re comfortable. No travel, no waiting room.
Appointments that fit around your life. We book in Sydney time and confirm the time in yours, with appointments outside business hours available by arrangement.
Paperwork without the post. Documents are shared securely and signed electronically, creditor meetings can be held virtually, and bankruptcy applications are lodged with AFSA online. If any step does need someone in person, we’ll tell you early.
You can contact us directly or bring your accountant, lawyer or a support person into the call.
When to seek help
However the debt built up, the starting point is the same
How we work:
Some people come to us after years of running a business. Many never had one, and credit cards, loans or a tax bill grew faster than they could pay them down.
Business owners can also end up personally liable through a guarantee or a DPN.
Whatever led here, it is not a moral failing. The law provides formal ways to deal with debt you can't repay, and the first step is working out which one fits.
When to get in touch:
Using one card to pay another
Minimum repayments eating most of your income
A legal threat or bankruptcy notice
A called-in guarantee or a DPN
You've stopped opening the mail
_edited_edited.jpg)
WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH:
Thyge Trafford-Jones
Thyge is an ASIC Registered Liquidator (No. 458321), Registered Small Business Restructuring Practitioner and AFSA Registered Bankruptcy Trustee (No. 1582).
He is a member of the Australian Reconstruction, Insolvency & Turnaround Association and CPA Australia. He is also a Justice of the Peace.
Thyge handles the assessment himself. You won't be passed to a case manager, and you'll get a straight answer about what is and isn't available.
WHO ELSE YOU WILL WORK WITH:
Melissa Daubney
Client Liaison
Melissa brings a rare blend of business acumen and compassion to her role at TTJ Advisory.
With a background in sales and marketing, and firsthand experience running her own small business, Melissa is known for going above and beyond to support individuals and small business owners through challenging times, ensuring they feel heard, understood, and in control of the path forward.
When she’s not supporting clients, Melissa is a proud mum of four boys and a master of juggling family life with work. Her secret weapons? Coffee, spreadsheets, and a great sense of humour.
Worried about debt? Start here.
You may be struggling with credit cards, loans or overdue bills, or finding that repayments leave little for everyday expenses.
Perhaps your income has changed, a relationship has ended, or business debts are affecting your personal finances.
You don’t need to know which solution is right before asking for help. We’ll explain your options, what they could mean for you and the next steps.
Where personal and business debts overlap, we can help you understand both.
One conversation can make things clearer.
We’ll help you understand what you owe, what you’re personally responsible for and which options may be available.
Our expertise spans personal insolvency, company liquidation and small business restructuring, so we can consider how your personal and business debts fit together.
Insolvency and bankruptcy are governed by federal law, so the same formal processes apply in Perth as they do in Penrith. Thyge’s registrations as an ASIC Registered Liquidator and AFSA Registered Trustee are national, so he can advise on, and where appropriate act in, matters anywhere in Australia.
You’ll get plain-language explanations and practical next steps. If part of your situation needs a separate independent specialist, we’ll explain that early.
Start by telling us what’s happening. We’ll help you work through it.
.png)
CASE STUDIES
Building contractor facing personal exposure
The notice arrived. The clock had already started.
Challenges
Fixed-price work, higher costs and delayed progress payments pushed a busy contractor behind with ATO and super obligations. A Director Penalty Notice brought the director's personal position into the matter.
Assets
Work in progress, contract receivables, vehicles, tools and equipment.
Debts
ATO and super liabilities, suppliers and finance commitments, with possible personal exposure for the director.
Proposal
The director's commercial lawyer brought Thyge in urgently for the insolvency assessment while retaining the legal matter. The company's position, the notice and the director's exposure would be reviewed separately, with timing treated as critical.
Outcome
No outcome is assumed. What remains available depends on the notice, lodgement history, timing and the underlying viability of the business.
Outcome
PRIMARY: Small Business Restrucuring
SECONDARY: Directors Penalty Notice Amendment, Statutory Trustee, Bankruptcy Advice
Retail or lifestyle business
Stock was on the shelves. Cash was not.
Challenges
A local retailer overbought stock before demand slowed. Cash became tied up in inventory while rent, suppliers and tax obligations continued to fall due.
Assets
Saleable stock, online store, customer relationships, fixtures and equipment.
Debts
ATO liabilities, suppliers and lease commitments.
Proposal
The bookkeeper saw aged payables and tax liabilities worsening and suggested an early conversation. Thyge would assess whether a profitable core remained, what value could be recovered from stock and whether the cost base could realistically be reset.
Outcome
No restructuring outcome is promised. Early review helps determine whether the business can be stabilised or whether an orderly exit would preserve more value.
Outcome
Professional services firm
A major client left. The tax debt stayed.
Challenges
An established consultancy relied heavily on one client. When the contract ended, receivables slowed but staff, software and occupancy costs continued. BAS and PAYG liabilities accumulated before the cost base could be reset.
Assets
Debtors, work in progress, client relationships, business IP and equipment.
Debts
Legacy ATO debt, employee entitlements and ordinary trade creditors.
Proposal
The firm's accountant made an early introduction. Thyge would first test whether the business remained viable at a lower cost base, then compare the available informal and formal pathways against a revised forecast.
Outcome
No outcome is assumed. The point is to assess the position while the client book, staff and underlying business may still hold value.
Outcome
Hotel and pub
Paid 18c in the dollar
Challenges
COVID-19 lockdowns, a 70% drop in monthly sales and high fixed and operating costs.
Assets
Debts
$280,000 unsecured, including $200,000 owed to the ATO
Proposal
A payment plan arranged with the ATO and other creditors to repay $40,000 over ten months.
Outcome
Creditors accepted the proposal. Unsecured creditors received their scheduled payments. The business avoided liquidation and the cost of voluntary administration, enabling future profitability and stability.
Outcome
Restaurant group
Paid 22c in the dollar
Challenges
COVID-19 lockdowns, a significant drop in customer foot traffic and increased supply costs.
Assets
Debts
$240,000 unsecured, including $180,000 owed to the ATO
Proposal
$52,800 to unsecured creditors, paid over eight months, supported by a cashflow forecast prepared for the repayment plan.
Outcome
Creditors accepted the proposal. Employees received their full superannuation and kept their jobs. Unsecured creditors received their scheduled payments. The business avoided liquidation and the cost of voluntary administration, allowing for future growth and stability.
Outcome
Custom cabinetry business
Paid 20c in the dollar
Challenges
Supply chain issues, higher material costs, fixed expenses and the impact of COVID-19.
Assets
Debts
$150,000 unsecured, including $125,000 owed to the ATO
Proposal
$30,000 lump sum for unsecured creditors, presented as a better return than liquidation.
Outcome
Creditors accepted the proposal. The business continued trading without significant debt and avoided voluntary administration.
Outcome
Construction business
Paid 15c in the dollar
Challenges
COVID-19 restrictions, supply chain disruption, increased material costs and project delays.
Assets
Cash at bank, vehicles and equipment
Debts
$300,000 unsecured, including $240,000 owed to the ATO
Proposal
$45,000 to creditors as a lump sum, supported by a detailed cashflow forecast and a private investor.
Outcome
Creditors accepted the proposal. Unsecured creditors received their dividend. The business avoided liquidation and the cost of voluntary administration, and continued trading.
Outcome
You don't need your paperwork in order or to know what to ask for.
Your first conversation is confidential and focused on understanding what has happened. Thyge will explain the options in plain language, identify any deadlines already running, and set out the next step.
A confidential conversation. What's happened, what's owed, what's already been lodged.
An assessment of the position. Whether the business is viable, and where personal exposure sits.
An agreed next step. In writing, with what it involves and what it costs.
Bankruptcy is not the only option, and it is not the end.
A PIA lets you settle debts without bankruptcy, and binds all unsecured creditors if accepted by the required majority.
Bankruptcy usually lasts three years, and most unsecured debts are released when it ends.
Both carry a permanent NPII record, so the right choice depends on your circumstances.
FAQ
The questions people across Australia ask us most often.
What time zone are appointments in?
We book in Sydney time and confirm the time in yours. Appointments outside business hours are available by arrangement.
How does it work if we never meet in person?
Documents are shared securely and signed electronically. Creditor meetings can be held online, and bankruptcy applications are lodged with AFSA online.
Can you help if I'm not near one of your offices?
Yes. We give confidential advice by phone and video to individuals, families and business owners anywhere in Australia. If any step does need someone in person, we'll tell you early.
What if my personal debts are connected to my business?
We can help assess how the two positions relate, including which obligations belong to you and which belong to a company.
Can someone join the conversation with me?
Yes. You're welcome to include your partner, a trusted support person, accountant or lawyer.
Does asking for help mean I'll have to declare bankruptcy?
No. Seeking advice helps you understand your position and the options that may be available. Bankruptcy is one possible pathway.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can contact us directly, or ask your accountant or lawyer to make an introduction.
Tools & Resources
SBR eBook for Accountants
Sole Trader Bankruptcy in NSW: Complete 2025 Guide by Licensed Trustee
Read Our Blog
SERVICES
LEGAL
EVERYTHING ELSE
AUSTRALIA OFFICES:
NORTHERN BEACHES:
Suite 222, 20 Dale St
Brookvale NSW 2100
Thyge Trafford-Jones
-
Principal — ASIC Registered Liquidator (No. 458321) · AFSA Registered Trustee (No. 1582)
-
Member, Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association (ARITA)
-
Member, CPA Australia
TTJ Advisory is a registered business name of Restructure My Small Business Pty Ltd (ACN 670 511 476).
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
© 2026 TTJ Advisory.
TTJ Advisory acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we operate, live and gather as employees, and recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
