If we are unable to assist you in resolving your legal or non-legal issue, we will attempt to refer you to another service that can. Financial abuse is a form of family and family violence. It is a model of controlling, exploiting or sabotaging money, finance and economic resources. This can happen to anyone, regardless of their financial capacity. RLC strives to eliminate inequalities in the legal system that negatively and disproportionately affect vulnerable people. The Centre pursues social changes and legislative reforms to reduce these inequalities. Commenting on the report, Laura Bianchi, Team Leader and Solicitor, Financial Abuse Service NSW, Redfern Legal Centre, said: “This report highlights the need for a one-stop approach to service delivery where survivor victims can address their social support needs as well as legal issues. CIS research clearly shows that legal and non-legal support needs to be more comprehensively integrated to better address the complex needs of people who have experienced domestic violence and financial abuse, and this combined approach should be extended to Australia to better meet demand. Financial abuse In this short video, financial abuse experts discuss how to ask for help Financial abuse can have serious and long-term impacts on the safety and economic security of victim-survivors. Through its Financial Abuse Service NSW, RLC provides legal advice and representation to clients affected by financial abuse. Claire Dawson, Executive Director of Community Investment, CBA, said: “The work being done by RLC and CIS to improve support for victim-survivors of abuse by developing a service model based on best practices is extremely important. Ensuring that community-based organisations across Australia are able to offer the right support at the right time will ultimately lead to better long-term outcomes for people who have experienced domestic violence and financial abuse.
We hope that other organizations will find the report and its findings useful. Financial abuse issues are often identified in the context of telecommunications services. It is important to address practical issues related to mobile phones, ongoing access to services, and data protection to remove barriers that prevent surviving victims from leaving abusive relationships. This webinar discusses practical strategies for negotiating telecommunications services. There is now a wide range of support options in policies to combat domestic and domestic violence – but access to them can sometimes be difficult. Legal services are also supported by American Express, PwC Australia, Ashurst and Telstra, as well as the Commonwealth Government, which is managed by Legal Aid NSW under the Community Legal Services Program. The Ecstra Foundation supports national law reform, advocacy and capacity building. The report, which is part of the CommBank Next Chapter – a program that helps victims and survivors achieve long-term financial independence – was designed as a model of best practice that can be customized by service providers across Australia. Economic intimate partner violence in Australia: prevalence, health status, disability and financial stress (PDF, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2017) Addressing financial abuse issues often requires the search for creative strategies in different areas of law. In response to the high level of unmet needs identified in the first 18 months of operation, RLC`s Financial Abuse Service NSW expanded its advice on financial family law matters such as property settlement, spousal support and child support, as well as advice on credit, debt and consumer issues. Panelists: RLC`s Financial Abuse Service NSW provides free legal information and advice to people in NSW who have experienced financial abuse in an intimate partner relationship. A new report shows that service models must meet the legal and non-legal needs of victims and survivors of financial abuse.
In this webinar, we share tips on investigating and resolving financial abuse cases that we have gained from our experience with the Financial Abuse Service NSW. You will understand the laws and policies that can be used to address credit, debt and consumer rights issues arising from financial abuse in intimate partner relationships, as well as practical strategies for negotiating with stakeholders to achieve the best outcomes for victim survivors. Commonwealth Bank, in partnership with the Redfern Legal Centre (RLC) and Consulting & Implementation Services (CIS), has released a new report, Addressing financial abuse: a collaborative service model for legal and non-legal support, which outlines a best practice service model for organisations working with victim-survivors of domestic violence and financial exploitation. In times of crisis, there is evidence that family and family violence increases in frequency and severity. Some people may be victims of financial abuse for the first time and for others, it can escalate. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is easier to hide signs of financial abuse through financial stress, unemployment and housing insecurity. More than ever, front-line community ministries are able to identify individuals who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of their experience of financial abuse. The webinars are useful for all community workers and volunteers in services such as financial counseling, domestic violence, women`s shelters, and community law centers.
A few examples are from New South Wales, but most of the content is applicable throughout Australia. Note: The webinars do not focus on elder abuse. Trapped and Tired Up: The Power of Money in Love RLC lawyer Laura Bianchi explains how RLC NSW`s legal department helps people regain their financial independence If you have been a victim of financial abuse, we can also advise you on financial matters related to family law, such as: With information from RLC`s Financial Abuse Service NSW, you`ll learn how to identify financial abuse and safely help surviving victims deal with their relationship debts. even when specialized legal advice is needed and where it can be found. “I credit the hotline for saving my life from an abuser and giving me the facts I needed in an emergency to equip me to get out.” Money is a powerful tool that can be used to isolate and control. There may not be any physical bruises, but the scars of financial abuse are clearly visible on a victim`s bank statement, credit report, and eroded financial confidence. According to a 2014 study by WIRE, up to 90% of women who sought help from domestic violence services experienced financial abuse. Building on the service`s approach, the report explains how community-based organizations can provide a more holistic service to clients affected by domestic violence and financial abuse, so that they have better access to legal and social support without having to purchase these broader services individually.