Financial Abuse Support

Financial abuse is a form of family violence that often happens alongside other types of violence, such as physical or emotional abuse. It is controlling behaviour that denies a person financial autonomy and can include but is not limited to:

• withholding money
• taking away your access to money bank accounts and financial records
• manipulating your financial decisions
• using your money without consent
• controlling all the household spending
• coercing you to relinquish control over assets, take out a loan, credit card, or guarantee a loan in their name for the benefit of the controlling partner
• restricting or monitoring your access to mobile phones and the internet
• forcing you to pay for someone else’s expenses or refusing to include you in financial decisions.

Financial abuse can happen to anyone. The abuser could be your partner, a family member, carer, or friend.

If you or someone you know is experiencing financial abuse, free and confidential help is available.  Below are some national services that can offer free and confidential support:

Financial Abuse Support

• 1800 RESPECT

  1800RESPECT is the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

  They provide support for people experiencing, or at the risk of experiencing, violence and abuse, their friends and family, and professionals.

  Website: www.1800respect.org.au
  Phone: 1800 737 732

• Ask Izzy

  Ask Izzy is a mobile website that connects people who are in crisis with the services they need right now and nearby.

  Website: www.askizzy.org.au

• Centre for Women's Economic Safety

  CWES exists to raise awareness and understanding of economic abuse and to advocate for social and systemic change in support of women's economic safety and opportunity.

  Website: www.economicsafety.org.au

• Family Relationships Advice Line

  An Australian Government Initiative. The Family Relationship Advice Line is a national telephone service that helps families affected by relationship or separation issues, including information on parenting arrangements after separation. It can also refer callers to local services that provide assistance.

  Phone: 1800 050 321

  Website: www.familyrelationships.gov.au

• Good Shepherd

  Good Shepherd can connect you with the services you need to make your family safe. If you are experiencing family violence, they help with:

  • Information on financial counselling services and assistance with the referral process
  • Information about other financial support available such as a No Interest Loan from Good Shepherd
  • Application process for eligible funding opportunities
  • Assistance with accessing Centrelink services

  Phone: 03 5970 5700
  Website: www.goodshep.org.au/services/family-violence-financial-assistance

• Lifeline

  A national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

  Phone: 13 11 14
  Website: www.lifeline.org.au

• Relationships Australia

  Relationships Australia works in a variety of ways to support respectful relationships across Australia.

  With three key pillars at the national level, we provide services and supports to all people, to enable sustainable respectful relationships.

  Phone: 1300 364 277

  Website: www.relationships.org.au