Domestic violence support

Financial abuse occurs when someone restricts your access to money, influences your financial decisions unfairly, or uses your money without permission. Understanding this can empower you to seek help and regain your financial independence.

• Limiting your access to bank accounts, credit cards, or cash
• Making you seek permission to spend your own money
• Denying you from accessing the internet, phone or transportation to hinder your ability to work or study
• Refusing to contribute to shared costs or child support
• Not providing enough money for living expenses or costs relating to raising children.

Financial abuse may involve the misuse of your money without your knowledge or consent.

• Forging your signature on cheques
  
• Withdrawing or transferring large amounts of money from your bank account
• Using your credit card
• Cancelling or hiding bank or credit card statements
• Diverting bill, rent or mortgage money for other purposes
  
• Selling your property without your consent.
  

Financial abuse can involve signing legal documents without your consent, such as forging your signature on legal documents, forcing you to sign papers you don’t understand, or taking out loans, credit cards, or other debts in your name without your permission. It may also include pressuring you to apply for a loan or debt on their behalf, forcing or coercing you to change your will, or to appoint them as your enduring power of attorney, or failing to act in your best interests as your power of attorney.

• For confidential information, counselling, and support, call 1800RESPECT the national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling service at 1800 737 732. This free and confidential service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text 0458 737 732, and if you require an interpreter, call 13 14 50.
• Call 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374) in cases of elder abuse. This free phone number automatically redirects you to the appropriate phone service in your state or territory. Please note that operating hours and services may vary.

How we can help

• If you are impacted by domestic or family violence, can contact Community First's Enhanced Care Team at 1300 011 271 between 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday.
• Outside of these times you can reach us via our main contact centre on 1300 13 22 77 Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm, or on Saturdays from 8 am to 3 pm. You can also submit a request through the Call Back form on the Community First website, www.communityfirst.com.au

We may refer you to other counselling services and can also discuss your financial hardship options, especially if you have recently left a difficult situation. Please don’t hesitate to reach – we are here to help.