Page 3337 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 21 October 2014
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Financial abuse occurs when money and assets are used by a person to exercise power and control over their partner. This type of abuse can take many different forms—for example, something as simple as controlling all the household finances, monitoring spending or perhaps demanding to see all the receipts for every single purchase. For some women, financial abuse is not about being able to work or study, things that would create financial independence; it can be when a woman is restricted or prevented from using the family car or it may be that the partner keeps all their financial affairs a secret. The partner might not allow a woman to spend money on herself or their children, while spending on themselves, taking out loans or running up debts in their partner’s name; might refuse to contribute to household expenses or child care; or might put the woman’s name on all of the utility bills.
Financial support and knowledge are frequently the difference between violence and safety for many women. Once they have left, separating their finances and financial obligations from their abusive partners is an important aspect to starting up a new life. Understanding who we talk to, how to safely plan for leaving, what needs to be considered and what support options are available all contribute to helping support women to leave violent domestic relationships.
That is what the “Women’s money matters” financial resource for women leaving violence is about. It provides women and their friends, family members or the services who are supporting them with local, accessible and reliable information to guide them with their specific needs and to help improve their financial knowledge and access to support in the ACT.
This resource guide includes information about who to talk to about money before, during and after leaving violence—whether to access legal advice to protect their finances; what to do about managing money and using banking services; how to separate finances; what additional financial support might be available, such as Centrelink support payments or victims of crime financial assistance; and what types of emergency or crisis support can be accessed, such as the Domestic Violence Crisis Service or other emergency support.
It also provides information about exploring housing options, such as whether to leave home or whether to stay, how to manage the mortgage or negotiate new repayment plans, or whether to continue in a rental property, and what might be required to do this. It discusses how to deal with debts and how to create a plan to enable debt recovery. It also goes on to provide information about paying utility bills, where to access low-cost food assistance and low-cost health services, phone support, and ways to reduce chemist or pharmacy costs and an unexpected medical cost. It provides information about creating a budget, tips to stay on budget, and ways to reduce household bills such as utility bills and grocery shopping—tips that I think many of us could benefit from.
The specific resource for women within and exiting prison covers many of the same aspects that I have already discussed. However, it also focuses on specific issues for this relatively small but significantly marginalised group of women. Because of the regimented environment of a prison, when women are released, they can feel
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