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About the guide

  • Financial abuse can be difficult to recognise and identify

    Many people may not recognise that they are in a financially abusive relationship, whether with their partner or a family member, and as with other forms of abuse, financial abuse may begin subtly and worsen over time.

    We’ve created a comprehensive guide designed to help victims and survivors of domestic and family violence (DFV) to identify and find support when experiencing financial abuse. In it, you’ll find information about financial abuse, strategies for recognising financial abuse and direction to resources that may be helpful to support your recovery.

    It may also help you to have a conversation with someone who you think might be in a financially abusive relationship.

    Download the guide

Who's at risk of financial abuse?

  • Approximately 1 in 4 women and 1 in 13 men have experienced at least one incident of violence by an intimate partner
  • Financial abuse affects people from all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, with or without children
  • All genders can be victims and perpetrators of financial abuse
  • Financial abuse doesn’t just occur in heterosexual relationships, it can also occur in abusive lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer relationships
  • Women with disabilities or long-term health conditions are significantly more likely than the general population to experience financial abuse.
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Common signs

  • Some common signs of financial abuse in relationships include:

    • Your partner has prevented you from getting a job or going to work
    • You’ve been pressured to stop earning or spending your own money
    • Your partner makes decisions about how all household income is spent
    • Your partner monitors what you spend or asks to see receipts
    • You’ve been denied access to money or have to ask for money for basic expenses.

Where to get help

  • What you can do first

    If you’re in danger, please call the police on 000.

    If you are impacted by financial abuse you can call a Next Chapter specialist on 1800 222 387 9am-6pm, Monday to Friday (Sydney/Melbourne time), excluding public holidays. For more information, please visit our Domestic and Family Violence assistance page.

  • Other free external specialist services

    For confidential information, counselling and support, we recommend contacting 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via 1800RESPECTy.org.au or text 0458 737 732. This is a free and confidential service that isn’t part of Commonwealth Bank. If you need an interpreter or translator, you can ask for one and the counsellor will make the arrangements.

Get support to protect yourself against domestic and family violence

Seek help

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