On this page, we talk about
Financial violence and abuse is when someone:
- takes your money
- controls your money
- makes you pay for other people’s things.
There is support available if the information on this page upsets you.
You can find out more on our page about support.
What financial violence and abuse is
Financial violence and abuse can be when someone:
- stops you from using your money
- makes you feel bad if you do not spend money on them
-
manages or controls your money for you without your
When you give your consent, you say it is okay for someone to do something.
Financial violence and abuse can also be when someone forces you to:
- spend your money on things you do not want
- pay for their things, like their bills
-
change your
A will is a legal document that explains what you want to do with your things when you die.
These things include your:
- money
- personal items
- home and land.
Financial violence and abuse can also be when someone:
- adds their name to your bank account so they can use your money
- asks you for money to buy something but spends the money on something else.
The person might say that they are helping you.
Even though they are using financial violence and abuse.
Financial violence and abuse can make you feel:
- embarrassed
- like someone is taking advantage of you
- like you have to rely on the person who is using financial violence or abuse.
Who can experience financial violence and abuse
Anyone can experience financial violence and abuse.
But some people are more likely to experience it.
This includes:
- people with disability
- older people.
You can experience financial violence and abuse from anyone.
For example:
- your child who has become an adult
- your partner
- a stranger
- your parent.
Where financial violence and abuse can happen
Financial violence and abuse can happen:
- in‑person
- online
- through text messages
- over the phone.
People can also experience financial violence and abuse from an organisation.
This can be because of an organisation’s
A policy is:
- a plan for how to do things
- where rules come from.
What you can do
You have the to manage your own money.
Rights are rules about how people must treat you:
- fairly
- equally.
You also have the right to choose if you want support to manage your own money.
It is never your fault if you experience financial violence or abuse.
And it is important to get support.
There are steps you can take if you have experienced financial violence and abuse.
We have information and resources on this website to help you get the support you need.
You can find out more on our page about support.
You should take care of yourself.
You can find out more on our page about getting the most out of life.
Example story
We wrote a story to show an example of financial violence and abuse.
The story we wrote is about a person called Taylor.
The story and the people in it are not real.
We made them up to explain financial violence and abuse.
Taylor’s story
Taylor’s uncle is their carer.
He makes Taylor pay his phone bill.
Taylor does not want to pay his phone bill.
But he makes them feel bad if they do not pay it.
Taylor is experiencing financial violence and abuse from their uncle.
It is never your fault if you have experienced the bad behaviour we talk about on this page.
We are sorry that this has happened to you.
The first thing you should do is make sure you are safe.
If you or someone you know is in danger, call Triple Zero.
000
We have a section on this website about how to call Triple Zero.
You can find out more on our page about a guide to call Triple Zero.
You can contact 1800RESPECT for support.
You can call them.
1800 737 732
You can talk to someone online.
You can send them a text message.
0458 737 732
If you send them a text message, you can just send the word ‘HELLO’.
You can leave your partner if this is where you are experiencing the bad behaviour.
For example, your boyfriend or girlfriend.
You can find out more on our page about how to be safe when you leave a relationship.
If you are not ready to leave your partner, you can still make a plan about how to be safe.
You can find out more on our page about when you are not ready to leave a relationship.
You can get support from your friends and family.
It is a good idea to tell them:
- what they can do to help you
- to focus on what you need to feel safe.
You can keep proof of the person’s bad behaviour if it safe for you to do so.
You can give this proof to the police if you decide to contact them.
You can start to manage your own money so you can leave if or when you want to.
You can find out more on our page about managing your own money.
You can share what is happening to a government organisation.
For example, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).
AHRC is an organisation that makes sure people treat others:
- fairly
- equally.
You can call a helpline.
Helplines are phone numbers that will connect you to people who:
- care about what you are going through
- can give you good advice.
We have a list of helplines on our website.
You can find out more on our page about helplines.
You can work with someone to explore how you think and feel.
This can help you:
- reach goals
- feel safe
- learn skills
- understand what happened to you.
You can find out more on our page about counselling.
You can learn more about the rules about how people must treat you:
- fairly
- equally.
You can find out more on our page about your rights.
You can think about what you can do to care for yourself.
You can find out more on our page about caring for yourself.
You might have experienced the bad behaviour from someone who did a service for you.
For example, from:
- a health professional
- someone who cleaned your house.
You can talk to the person who organises your services if this has happened to you.
