By Natalie Heslop
Footscray’s Vic Hotel was bustling. Despite the cold June weather, the sun was shining and I had the privilege of witnessing a courageous and transformative event: Conversations That Matter: Voices for Change.
Hosted by Amanda Thompson, Founder of Endurance Financial, the event shone a light on the silent yet powerful role of financial abuse in trapping victims in cycles of violence.
Thompson emphasised the importance of awareness and the need for support for those affected. “Too scared to stay, but too scared to leave is the heartbreaking reality for so many. And at the heart of that fear are the practical barriers: housing, money, and the very real question of safety,” she says.
“Until we address these systemic obstacles, we can’t expect women to walk away from danger when there’s nowhere safe or secure to land.”
Suzanne Paynter, from Safe Steps crisis centre says their organisation alone handles around 300 crisis contacts a day. That’s 109,500 a year.
“More than 60% of the women we speak to are assessed as being at immediate risk. These are people fleeing in the night, with nowhere to go,” she says.
Inspector Dale Huntington from Victoria Police highlighted the scale and complexity of the problem stating that over 55% of crimes against a person are related to family violence.
“We’re seeing victims who endure physical violence because financial abuse keeps them from leaving. It’s the silent abuse; invisible but enduring.”
Victoria Police Senior Sergeant Quasar Hayes says new migrants are particularly at risk. She says for some migrants “abuse may have been considered normal.”
“We need more safe adults; people who listen, who offer support, who simply say: ‘I believe you.’ ”
Senior Sergeant Hayes says the biggest challenge facing the police is trust. “It’s about being a trusted first step. We need communities to know that when they come to us, we’ll connect them with long-term support — not just intervention orders, but housing, advocacy, safety.”
Dr Emma Fulu, founder of The Equality Institute, says financial abuse is both a form of abuse and a structural barrier.
The Equality Institute is a global feminist agency working to end violence against women and girls. Dr Fulu’s research shows how gender inequality, rigid social norms, and early conditioning around money and power reinforce cycles of violence.
Conversations That Matter was more than just an event on a winter’s day; it served as a rallying cry to highlight problems that have been silenced for far too long. The event focused not only on raising awareness but also on taking action against financial abuse and family violence.
Support Services
If you found any of the issues raised in this article distressing you can reach out to:
Lifeline on 131 114
1800 Respect National Helpline on 1800 737 732
13 Yarn on 13 92 76
Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
Great story. Great journalism
AC