Financial abuse

• Taking your wages, pension or Centrelink
• Controlling your access to money — giving you an "allowance," demanding receipts
• Running up debt in your name, or in a joint account
• Refusing to pay child support
• Pressuring you to sign things you don't understand
• Elder financial abuse — misusing a Power of Attorney, pressuring to change a will, taking over accounts, selling a parent's house
• Preventing you from working, or making work impossible
• Using money to trap you in a relationship

The National Debt Helpline has qualified financial counsellors who specialise in helping people affected by financial abuse. They can help you understand the debts you are (and aren't) liable for, talk to creditors on your behalf, and plan safe next steps. Free, confidential, independent.

All major Australian banks have dedicated family and financial abuse teams. They can't undo what has happened, but they can often help with hardship arrangements, waive fees, freeze joint accounts, and help you set up new private banking. Ask specifically for "the family and financial abuse team."

If someone is misusing a Power of Attorney — using it to benefit themselves, make gifts they shouldn’t, or take money — it is a serious legal matter. The Public Advocate (or equivalent) in your state, and OPAN, can help. So can a community legal centre.