NSW needs to address coercive control, but this rushed law is not the way to do it
Opinion piece by Gayatri Nair. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/03/nsw-needs-to-address-coercive-control-but-this-rushed-law-is-not-the-way-to-do-it
Domestic abuse, company directors and business debt
Marion’s husband was jealous of her contact with work colleagues and pressured her to give up her nursing job. When she decided to run a small cleaning business, the coercive control escalated.
Marion’s husband insisted she not do paperwork at home and took control over the business finances. He controlled every aspect of her life, refusing to let her see a doctor for pain in her arms, insisting she take sedatives he provided. When Marion tried to sell the business, he sabotaged the sale by being abusive in front of potential buyers.
Marion escaped the relationship […]
New funding ensures EARG’s work can continue
The Economic Abuse Reference Group (EARG) will continue to contribute to better financial outcomes for people experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV), thanks to a grant from the Ecstra Foundation.
EARG is a network of community organisations (financial counselling services, family violence services, community legal centres and women’s services) which work together to influence government and industry responses to the financial impacts of domestic and family violence.
The multi-year funding commitment provides for a DFV expert to build on the policy work to date, to facilitate information and resource sharing and to co-ordinate input to law reform, reviews and industry policies.
Over […]
New report shows we are making a difference.
We have seen better financial outcomes for family violence victim survivors over the past three years, due to the work of government, regulators and business. A new report by Carolyn Bond and Dr. Madeleine Ulbrick examines what has been achieved, and what remains to be done.
In 2016, the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence (RCFV)[1] recommended action by government, regulators and business to address economic abuse. The Chair of the Victorian Essential Services Commission reflected on what many regulators and businesses were likely to had thought at that time “We’re economists. What do you want me to do […]
Family violence, financial abuse and COVID-19
Domestic and family violence increases in times of disaster[1], and services are already reporting an increase in calls for help[2] as a result of COVID-19. Contributing risks include isolation with a violent partner and being cut-off from community supports.
Other factors specifically increase the risks of financial abuse. Financial abuse (also referred to as economic abuse) is a form of family violence which commonly accompanies physical and emotional abuse.
The ability to access superannuation opens up an avenue for an abusive person to coerce, or force, their partner to access their funds when this is not in the […]
Report on Victorian response to financial abuse
This refers to a 2018 report which covers activity prior to the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence until late 2018. A more recent report, covering the period from the Royal Commission until December 2019 can be found here.
Collaboration between Government, community and business sectors in Victoria have led to significant reforms which improve the economic wellbeing of victim-survivors of family violence.
A new report describes developments over the past 20 years including recognition of economic abuse as a form of family violence and efforts to improve financial outcomes for family violence victim-survivors.
Read the
Energy regulator seeks feedback on family violence guidance
The energy regulator in Victoria (the Essential Services Commission) has published a discussion paper to guide energy retailers on how to improve their processes to provide safe and effective support to customers and staff who experience family violence (due 7 December 2018).
Auditing the water industry’s family violence response
The Victorian water regulator audits water businesses annually to check compliance with customer services codes. This year’s audit, the Essential Services Commission (ESC) will focus on the family violence provisions of the code which must be implemented by 30 June 2018.
The audit will test whether the minimum family violence requirements are addressed in company policies, as well as whether:
· training has been delivered, and who was trained
· family violence included as an eligibility criteria for hardship assistance
· call handling processes for customer affected by family violence.
Progress will then be […]
Good Practice – Requests for Documents
Simplifying customer access to copies of documents relating to their financial service or utility accounts constitutes good service for all customers, and can be very important to those experiencing family violence. See our short guide.
Good practice – referral options
In addition to our Good Practice Guide, we have developed a guide to providing referral options to your business customers.
See the updated version of our Good Practice Guide
App helps women gain financial freedom
PENDA is a free app provides financial tips, legal information and referrals for women who have experienced family violence. It has been developed by Womens Legal Service Queensland and the Financial Rights Legal Centre with funding from Financial Literacy Foundation.
Consumer Affairs Forum on Financial Impacts of Family Violence
On 18th July 2017, Consumer Affairs Victoria hosted a forum which was attended by about 70 industry, government and consumer representatives to share ideas about responding to family violence. Read the report from the forum here. Responding to the Financial Impacts of Family Violence Forum Report July 2017
Financial Abuse Resource
The Commonwealth Bank has produced “Addressing Financial Abuse: A Domestic and Family Violence Community Resource Guide New South Wales.” with Domestic Violence NSW. While NSW specific, most of the information is relevant more broadly.
Free Mail Re-direction
Australia Post now offers 12 months free mail redirection for victims of family violence.
Joint Debts
The Financial Ombudsman Service has published its Approach to Joint Facilities and Family Violence, following consultation with stakeholders, including the EARG.
Insurance
We have raised some issues with the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) in relation to insurance problems faced by people experiencing family violence. We are pleased that the ICA have taken this seriously and will continue to engage with our members on this issue. Read more about this work here in the SMH and Insurance News article.
Read our paper here. Insurance and Family Violence
Water
The Essential Services Commissioner, which is responsible for regulating the Victorian water industry, has worked with water businesses and the community to respond to the RCFV’s recommendation that changes be made to the industry code, and that guidelines are developed, to address issues relating to family violence and utilities.
Some of our members had significant input and we expect the final code changes to be released in April. The next stage will be the development and release of Guidelines for consultation. http://www.esc.vic.gov.au/project/water/37433-proposed-customer-service-code-changes/ Matters covered include staff training, identifying indicators of family violence, maintaining personal safety (for staff and customers) and […]
Banking
In November 2016, the Australian Bankers Association (ABA) released Industry guideline: Financial abuse and family and domestic violence policies (Family Violence Guideline). Our group had the opportunity to provide input to the final document which guides banks in relation to issues such as staff training, identifying indicators of family abuse, supporting staff who have experienced family violence, and clarifying that banks can negotiate a variation of a joint agreement with just one of the parties if necessary.
In March 2017, the ABA responded to the recommendations of a review of […]