EARG members appeared before the Senate Economics Legislation Committee to discuss the impact of responsible lending reforms for financial abuse victim-survivors
Financial Abuse Service NSW
We provide free legal advice and support to people across NSW who have money problems or family law issues as a result of financial abuse.
On this page
What is financial abuse?
Financial abuse is a form of family and domestic violence. It is a pattern of abuse where money is used as a form of power or control. Financial abuse often occurs in intimate partner relationships.
Financial abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, income or financial capability.
About this service
Our service offers free and confidential advice to people in NSW experiencing money problems because of financial abuse.
We can advise you if your partner has:
- taken out debts in your name
- borrowed money from you they have not paid back
- pressured you to take out loans or sign personal guarantees
- opened an account in your name without your permission
- made you a director of a company that they control
- accrued traffic or parking fines in your name
We can also help you if:
- you want to fix information on your credit report because of financial abuse
- your credit score was damaged because of financial abuse
- you are considering bankruptcy because your partner put you in debt
We can also give you advice about financial family law matters, such as:
- dividing assets and debts in a property settlement
- spousal maintenance
- child support
- Family Court orders
Please note: our family law assistance is limited. We prioritise people who do not have legal representation and are not able to access family law advice elsewhere.
How we can help: Sandra's* story
How to contact us
- Fill in our short, confidential online enquiry form, or
- Call us on 0481 730 344 (Monday to Thursday 9am - 1pm).
You can ask for a free telephone interpreter if you need one. If you leave a voicemail, please tell us your name and how we can safely contact you.
If we can’t help solve your legal or non-legal problem, we will try to refer you to another service that can.
We welcome referrals from community workers. Call us and we will be happy to discuss if we can help.
Training and resources
Click here to access our many resources on financial abuse in intimate partner relationships, including recordings of our training webinars, legal tools, fact sheets and research.
Our webinars are valuable to all community workers and volunteers in services such as financial counselling, domestic violence, women's refuges and community legal centres. Some examples relate to NSW, but most of the content is applicable Australia-wide. Most of our webinar recordings are available to watch on-demand. Register for upcoming webinars here.
Other services that can help
Domestic violence services
- Women’s Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (WDVCAS) provides support and referrals to women seeking protection from domestic violence and navigating the court system. This free service is run by Legal Aid at locations across NSW. To contact your local WDVCAS call 1800 938 227.
- Women’s Legal Service NSW can provide advice to women on issues relating to children and family law, including child support. Call 02 8745 6988. For the Domestic Violence Legal Advice Line: call 02 8745 6999, or toll free 1800 810 784. For the First Nations Women's Legal Contact Line: call 02 8745 6977, or toll free 1800 639 784.
- 1800RESPECT. A 24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for anyone who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Phone 1800 737 732 or chat online.
- NSW Domestic Violence Line. A 24-hour service providing counselling and referrals to women experiencing domestic violence. Phone 1800 65 64 63.
- Relationships Australia. Domestic violence services and support in NSW. Services include individual counselling for women and men, behavioural change and group programs, educational programs, and legal case support.
Housing and homelessness
- Link2Home. NSW crisis accommodation. Phone 1800 152 152.
- Lou's place. A daytime refuge centre for women. Phone 02 9358 4553.
Financial counselling services
- The National Debt Helpline operates Australia wide and can put you in touch with a free financial counsellor in your local area. Phone 1800 007 007.
Family law services
- The Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS). Sydney CBD: Drop-in Family Law Advice Clinic. Free family law advice and support for women and men. Phone 1800 979 529.
Legal self-help
Law reform
We work to improve outcomes for financial abuse victim-survivors and ensure that financial abuse is recognised and addressed by the government and industry. Our change-making work is supported by Ecstra Foundation.
RLC coordinates the NSW chapter of the Economic Abuse Reference Group (EARG).
Papers and submissions
RLC's submissions to the Senate Inquiry into consumer credit reforms.
Papers and submissions
EARG believes the criminalisation of coercive control won’t necessarily achieve better outcomes for victim-survivors.
Service supported by
The Financial Abuse Service NSW is supported by Ecstra Foundation, who provided a grant for the policy, law reform and capacity-building work. The legal arm of the service is a proud partner of CommBank Next Chapter; our Foundation Supporters are American Express, PwC Australia, Ashurst and Telstra.
