Identifying and supporting clients experiencing domestic violence

Domestic or family violence is any intimidating behaviour that is violent, threatening, controlling or intended to make the victim or victims feel scared and unsafe. It is a widespread issue that affects people across different demographics within close relationships.³

Domestic violence involves various forms of abuse. It can be physical violence such as being hit, slapped, kicked or punched. It can be emotional or verbal abuse, for example, where the victim is subject to constant insults and intimidation, as well as coercive control, such as isolating the victim from family and friends. There could be sexual assault where the victim is coerced against their will. Or there could be a pattern of coercive and social control creating fear and dependency of the victims daily life. There will likely be financial abuse, where the abuser controls access to money and restricts financial independence, and may also involve preventing the victim from working or sabotaging their job.⁴

One in four women and one in thirteen men have experienced domestic or family violence by an intimate partner. Among those seeking support, 90% are affected by financial abuse.⁵

Financial abuse doesn't only impact intimate partners. Certain people, identities and communities in Australia are at greater risk than others to experience domestic violence such as women with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, LGBTIQA+ and the elderly. One in six older Australians aged 65 and over will experience abuse in any given year, where one in two of the elderly abuse is from their adult children. Parents can also experience abuse from their teenage children.⁵

As an adviser, you may come across clients who display signs of suffering from financial abuse or tell you that they are suffering from financial abuse. If you notice unexplained withdrawals, sudden changes in financial behaviour, or frequent requests for loans without clear reasons, these could indicate that the client is suffering from financial abuse.⁶ Some questions to consider:

1. Does your client's partner control their access to money or controls their spending?
2. Is your client being forced into taking out loans or opening accounts against their will?
3. Is there unequal contributions where one partner consistently avoids contributing to household expenses?
4. Are assets allocated unfairly to one partner's name, limiting the other's access or entitlement?
5. Are significant financial decisions made without your client's input?
6. Has your client discovered secret money or assets that were kept hidden by their partner?

If you know someone experiencing domestic violence, contact 000 in an emergency, and the National Sexual Assault, Family, and Domestic Violence Counselling Line 1800 RESPECT.

ClearView takes family and domestic violence matters very seriously. We are also here to support your clients when they need it most. For more information, visit www.clearview.com.au/vulnerability/family-violence-policy/

1. Partner Violence. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023
2. Family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018
3. What is family and domestic violence? Australian Government Services Australia 2024.
4. Tracking economic and financial abuse linked to domestic family violence. University of NSW 2022
5. Protecting the Rights of Older Australians. Attorney-General’s Department June 2020
6. Moneysmart, Signs of a financially abusive person. ASIC 2024.