In times of crisis there is evidence that family and domestic violence increases in frequency and severity. Some people may experience financial abuse for the first time and for others it may escalate. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is easier for signs of financial abuse to be disguised as financial stress, unemployment and housing insecurity. Now more than ever, frontline community services are uniquely placed to identify people who have money problems due to their experience of financial abuse.

Using insights from RLC’s Financial Abuse Service NSW, you will learn how to identify financial abuse and how to safely support victim survivors to deal with relationship debts, including when specialist legal advice is necessary and where to find it.

This webinar will be valuable to all community workers and volunteers in services such as financial counselling, domestic violence, women's refuges and community legal centres. Some examples will relate to NSW, but most of the webinar will be applicable Australia-wide. (Note: This webinar does not focus on elder abuse.)

RLC previously presented this topic in 2018. This updated webinar includes substantial new content and case studies derived from RLC’s new state-wide Financial Abuse Service NSW and recent experiences in light of COVID-19. 

Presenter: Jasmine Opdam, Solicitor, Redfern Legal Centre’s Financial Abuse Service NSW.

Enquiries: Nick Manning education@rlc.org.au.