FINANCIAL ABUSE
FINANCIAL ABUSE: SUMMARY
 | Key messages about financial abuse:
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- Financial abuse can include many things, like controlling and preventing a person’s access to money, stopping them from getting a job or forcing them to get loans they don’t want.
- If someone is experiencing financial abuse, it is not their fault – it is a choice made by the person perpetrating financial abuse to exert power and control.
- While financial abuse can be different for different people, there are similarities in the impact that those who have experienced it describe, for example:
- Feeling trapped
- Being made to feel incompetent
- Feeling dependent and powerless
Community Support Services
There are supports available for people who are experiencing financial abuse: (split into Local/National)
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| Financial counselling 9:30 – 4:30 M-F |
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| Specialised family violence financial counselling |
 Financial Independence Hub |
| Financial coaching for those who have experienced family violence + financial abuse |
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| A service that supports older people in addressing conflict relating to family or carers in their lives and preventing elder abuse |
General Family Violence
There are supports available for people who are experiencing family violence:
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| Information + counselling 24 hours |
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| Women’s business including family violence support |
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| A free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence |
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| Sexual assault and family violence services across the Barwon, Wimmera and Western Melbourne areas of Victoria |
USEFUL RESOURCES
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| Financial Abuse Toolkit |
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| EMH Aboriginal Women’s Services Financial Abuse Factsheet |
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| Good Shepherd Financial Abuse Information Hub |
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| Signs of Financial Abuse Factsheet |
FINANCIAL ABUSE: DEEP DIVE
| Key messages about financial abuse:
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Financial abuse has been described as a hidden epidemic as it is much less reported on and documented than physical or psychological abuse.
Financial abuse can occur throughout a relationship, or may begin after you and your partner have split up through things like property settlement and child support processes. Some examples of financial abuse include:
- Financial Control – controlling day-to-day household finances such as
- Closely monitoring a person’s spending
- Giving them a small allowance
- Limiting access to money such as bank accounts or benefits
- Being excluded from making financial decisions
- Financial Exploitation – manipulation of the household finances including:
- Forcing a person to take on debt, sign documents or claim welfare
- Forcing a person to work in a family business without getting paid
- Financial Sabotage – sabotaging a person’s capacity to be financially independent, such as:
- Stopping a person from attending work or study
- Destroying a person’s work product
- Institutional or Systemic Abuse – use of the system to disadvantage a person, such as:
- Refusing to pay child support
- Drawing out legal proceedings
There can be warning signs
Your partner might be abusive if they:
For more information on potential warning signs click on the information icon |  |
There are ways to help protect yourself against financial abuse and its impact
- Open your own mail
- Regularly check your bank/credit card statements for unauthorised transactions
- Keep your passwords and login information secure
- Don’t sign documents you don’t understand
- Seek independent advice if you are unsure something is in your best interests
There is support available
If you think you or someone you know is experiencing financial abuse:
- You can contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for information and support.
- You can contact National Debit Helpline on 1800 007 007 for financial counselling.
If you have experienced family violence including financial abuse and are not currently in a crisis situation, you can contact the Financial Independence Hub to access financial coaching and support
