Financial Abuse Information Hub

What is Financial Abuse?

Financial abuse is a serious and widespread form of domestic and family violence where the abuser uses money to gain control and power.

If you’re in immediate danger, call 000.
If you need immediate support, call 1800 RESPECT.

Watch our quick explainer video on Financial Abuse

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What are some signs of Financial Abuse?

Someone else deciding how the household income is spent.

Being forced to take out debt in your name.

Your partner monitoring your spending and/or asking for receipts.

Your partner neglecting to pay child support or child care.

Being denied access to your bank account.

Working for a family business and not receiving payment.

Your partner making it difficult for you to get a job or earn money.

Using your money to pay for all household expenses and not receiving discretionary income for yourself.

Your partner gambling away your shared money.

Download some signs of financial abuse

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Explore our blog posts to learn more

Financial Abuse, the What, Who and Why

Financial Abuse: The What, Who and Why – Good Shepherd

Black and white image, women wearing floral shirt writing in a book

Mamamia sits down with the Hub's Financial Coach, Suzanne Panecki to discuss Financial Abuse and how to recover

The Financial Independence Hub has a range of coaches and support workers to help survivors recover from financial abuse.

Read the full article here

Good Shepherd welcomes regulation of Buy Now Pay Later to protect women against abusive and coercive debt

Good Shepherd backs First Nations Voice to Parliament

Leading organisations in Geelong commit to enhance financial wellbeing in the community

JobSeeker must be raised to $76 a day to help build women’s safety and economic security

NSW election candidates must action family violence and cost of living priorities: Good Shepherd

Media release: Good Shepherd urges government to regulate Buy Now Pay Later like other credit products to protect women against abusive and coercive debt

Save on school supplies – cost-cutting hacks on education expenses

How much does a child’s education really cost? School expenses and how to pay for them

Dealing with debt – when BNPL goes wrong

Buy now… pay MORE later?

Media release: The role of Buy Now Pay Later in exploiting financial vulnerability

Misleading marketing, late payment fees, and unaffordable debt are just some of the ways Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) products exploit financial vulnerability.

Good Shepherd welcomes the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand welcomes the release of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 and commends its focus on addressing financial abuse and housing instability in ending violence against women. 

No Interest Loans to reach an additional 1.3 million Australian households

Brimbank residents to be offered life changing services under the one roof in ground-breaking first 

Shepherd’s Voice; Edition No. 54 | Winter 2022

The Orange Door – Hastings Access Point

Supporting Women’s Financial Safety

Women’s financial security and affordable housing must underpin the National Plan

Media release: Local organisations join forces to build financially resilient communities in Northern Adelaide

Media Release; Good Shepherd’s LaunchMe success stories meet in Wodonga to discuss future of program

Media Release – LaunchMe is building business in East Gippsland

Media release – 24 February 2022; Good Shepherd supports efforts on Child Labour in the Congo

New research examines pandemic impacts on family violence

Smart savings tips and simple ways to make the most of your money

How to avoid a New Year debt-induced hangover

Handy budget tips to help your family this Christmas

Serious about women’s safety? It requires broad policy reform

Anti-Poverty Week research reveals a third of all working Australians continue to risk poverty due to pandemic

Good Shepherd hotline to help Victorians access funds during lockdown

Good Shepherd Statement on National Women’s Safety Summit

How Good Shepherd is supporting the No Interest Loan (NILs) community network and clients during the pandemic

The Financial Independence Hub – one year empowering and supporting victim survivors of financial abuse

Cryptocurrency under the microscope this tax time

Financial Abuse: The What, Who and Why

Financial Abuse is a term that society and communities are only just really getting to know, despite there being an epidemic. It is extremely important to be in the know on this topic and familiarise yourself with the signs.

Our Top 10 Money Tips

Geelong Financial Inclusion Action Plan (FIAP) one year on

Geelong business and organisation leaders have urged locals who are continuing to struggle financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to seek support. In February 2020, ten pioneering organisations launched Australia’s first city-wide plan to support customers in hardship.

2021-22 Federal Budget: A Step Towards Wellbeing and Strengthened Economic Security

3 easy power-saving tips to help you save some dollars

Our financial experts share 3 small, easy changes that might help reduce your power usage and put a few extra dollars in your pocket.

Good Shepherd’s LaunchME 2020 graduates

2020 was an extremely challenging year for most people. Despite the difficulties, Good Shepherd ensured a year of microenterprise coaching for nine extraordinary and talented people through it’s LaunchME program.

The difference between safe and dangerous credit

Unexpected expenses can happen in everyday life. You may have to dip into your savings to repair a car or buy a new fridge. If you don’t have the cash, sometimes a small loan can help but there are many considerations.

Families struggling with back to school costs urged to avoid fast credit

Not for profit Good Shepherd has urged families in financial distress to consider government backed No Interest Loans, rather than adding to credit card debt or turning to pay day lenders and other sources of fast credit.

Economic abuse must be recognised as a driver of family violence

Governments, the community and corporate Australia across the country must start rethinking their approaches to addressing family violence if they are serious about ending violence against women.

Pandemic’s economic pain worse for the young, migrants and women

The economic impact of the Coronavirus pandemic has created a new group of economically vulnerable people, with young people, recent migrants and women among those hardest hit.

Next Chapter and the Financial Independence Hub

Commonwealth Bank is extending and expanding its support for people impacted by financial abuse, as a result of domestic and family violence, with the launch of Next Chapter; a new program that will see the bank bring a range of services, support, resources and research to the market.

Good Shepherd joins faith-based organisations to voice concerns about Religious Discrimination Bill

Leaders from Victoria’s most prominent faith-based and religious community service organisations have come together to urge the Federal Government not to implement the Religious Discrimination Bill as proposed.

Good Shepherd supports Treating Families Fairly

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is - along with the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and six other like-minded organisations - a member of Treating Families Fairly.

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