Financial abuse is a form of domestic violence involving the use of money as a tool of power and control. It is estimated 90 per cent of all domestic violence cases involve some form of financial abuse.
In Sydney, solicitor Laura Bianchi meets women like Ella every day at Redfern Legal Centre, where she heads up its statewide financial abuse service, formed in response to the high demand for legal assistance from victims of financial abuse.
"The most common thing we see is people who come to us with thousands and thousands of dollars of debt crippling their ability to move forward."
Mobile phone contracts, credit cards, and buy now pay later accounts using a victim's name without authority are the most common traps she sees among her clients, including Ella.
Ms Bianchi was the first lawyer Ella spoke to and was able to advocate on her behalf with creditors to negotiate the repayment of some debts and have others completely waived.
"This is where industry and government play such an important role... there might be very little legal avenue for people without assets in a relationship," Ms Bianchi said.
Read the full story here (Sydney Morning Herald, 16 September 2020)
