If you or someone you know is experiencing financial abuse, help is available to take back control.
Financial abuse, sometimes called economic abuse, is when someone uses money to hurt or control someone. It’s a type of domestic and family violence, and often happens alongside physical and emotional abuse. If you or someone you know is experiencing financial abuse, help is available to take back control.
The first step is to make sure you are safe. Call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for information, support or counselling including safety planning. Call 000 if you are in immediate danger.
What is financial abuse?
Financial abuse can take many forms. For example:
- by controlling access to money
- manipulating financial decisions
- forcing someone to take out loans
- using your money without your consent
- preventing you from getting a job to support yourself
- using threatening behaviour
General links and resources
To learn more about what financial abuse looks like, and, importantly, how to protect yourself and your money, the following resources are a useful place to start.
National Debt Helpline – page on financial abuse, which includes some steps to take
Moneysmart – page on financial abuse
1800RESPECT – financial abuse toolkit
Centre for Women’s Economic Safety – steps to financial safety (PDF)
Centre for Women’s Economic Safety – stories from people with lived experience
Women’s Information and Referral Exchange Inc – ‘Money Problems with your Partner’ booklet
Helplines to call
Talking to someone is free or inexpensive, and could be all you need to start making a plan towards safety. If you’re not sure where to begin, you can call 1800RESPECT and simply ask if what you are experiencing is normal, or if it could be considered abuse.
| Organisation | How to get help |
| 1800RESPECT The national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service | 1800 737 732 Online chat (navigate to the bottom of the page) |
| Lifeline Crisis support services | 13 11 14 Online chat |
| Beyond Blue Mental health support services | 1300 224 636 Online chat |
| MensLine Australia Information and referral service for men with family and relationship concerns | 1300 789 978 Online chat |
| Suicide Call Back Service Specialist counselling services | 1300 659 467 Online chat |
| Good Shepherd Their Financial Independence Hub is designed to help people who have experienced financial abuse | 1300 050 150 fih@goodshep.org.au |
This information was last updated on 5 June 2023.
The links and resources in this article have been compiled and reviewed by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence. We aren’t responsible for what you’ll find at the links, though we do hope you find the information useful. See our disclaimer if you’d like to know more.
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