Where to Get Help

Where to get Help

Financial Counsellors: LOVE & MONEY Can provide support, information and possible options, at no cost, so that you can make informed Coburg-Brunswick Community Legal & choices about your financial situation. Financial Counselling - Are you getting To contact your nearest financial counselling Centre service, telephone the Financial & Consumer Rights Council on 03-9663 2000 your Fair $hare? Community Legal Centres: For free and independent legal information, advice and referral. Telephone the Federation of Community Legal Centres on 03-9654 2204 for your local legal centre

Council of Single Mothers and Their Children (CSMC) A Project of the Provides information, support and assistance to Coburg-Brunswick single mothers. Tel: 03 9654 0622 Toll-free 1800 077 374 Community Legal & Financial Counselling Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service 78 Bell St. Coburg, 3058 Centre Inc. In emergency situations, a toll-free 24 hour Tel: 9350 4555 service Fax: 9354 2433 Tel: 1800 015 188 email: [email protected] Centrelink For income support; Tel: 131021 ask for a Social Worker

Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Service Tel: 9898 3145 We gratefully acknowledge the support of Community Health Centres Yarra Valley Water Check your local phone book under ‘community health’ or your Council directory

Gambler’s Help Provides counselling and financial counselling to gamblers and to their family members Tel: 1800 156 789 In the fairy tale, Cinderella gets rescued with the baby -and then, when you complain, he from a life of drudgery by the handsome gets so angry or upset, it just becomes too hard to Prince, and they live happily ever after. change the way things are. How To Avoid Financial Abuse It is called financial abuse. In real life, many women find that the opposite 1. Read the checklist...and heed warning occurs. When they were single, they had signs a job, a bank account, and independence. 2. Talk to your partner about money –before They fall in love, start a family, only to find it becomes a problem. It’s important to out – too late – that their Prince is really discuss: Mr. Scrooge, and won’t support his family. Warning Signs Checklist  attitudes to spending and saving  how money and financial “When I became pregnant, which was responsibilities will be shared planned...things began to deteriorate rapidly.  If I try to talk with my partner  to set goals & priorities together. He treated me like I was a financial drain...it about money he gets angry 3. Learn about your family finances, don’t was very easy for him to take control while I  I support the family, my partner expect your partner to make all the was heavily dependent on him..” supports himself decisions just because he’s a man. It’s  I am denied money to pay for really not too hard to understand, and the “the idea was that I would just look after the basic needs like food, transport, welfare of you and your children may be children without drawing on his income. clothing, school expenses & at stake. Talk to a financial counsellor if How?” sanitary products you need help.  I have no money to spend on 4. Keep a bank account in your name “I wasn’t allowed to go to the supermarket by myself- but he gets whatever he 5. Do not sign on the dotted line until you are myself...He would say buy Home Brand, it is wants clear what the document says and what it cheaper, even for the child, but for him it had  He refuses to tell me about means if you sign it. Talk to someone you to be good quality.” financial arrangements trust who is NOT involved.  He wants me to put all my assets 6. If discussion about money makes your “It wasn’t that my husband didn’t get paid into the family accounts–but he partner angry or hostile, seek help from a well...but he expected me to cover all our keeps his assets in his name counsellor. needs with about $40 a week. When I asked for  He forces me to sign papers for 7. Before you start a family: more there would always be a terrible scene in his business but gets angry if I  talk to people you know about the extra front of the children.” ask about what I’m signing costs of supporting a child  I pay all the household expenses  think about what you want to do – go back “..all the housekeeping expenses were paid because my partner’s money is to work or stay at home? How do you from my pension.” being saved for the future think you will manage financially?  He won’t let me have my own  discuss and plan with your partner how "He put everything in my name – gas, bank account the family finances will operate when you electricity, telephone, credit cards.”  He says he won’t give me any have the baby. Is he happy to support money if I don’t do what he wants your choices? Is he willing to give you These are the stories of real women. access to his income if you want to stay They are living in situations of financial hardship,  I’m not allowed to do the shopping without him home? Is he happy for you to return to even though many of their partners are on high work if you wish to? salaries.  If your partner is spending a lot of money on his hobbies & lifestyle, don’t just Why does this happen? Sometimes it is because assume this will change when you start a of domestic violence. Often it just starts without family. Discuss what you are both you noticing something’s wrong – you’re too busy prepared to sacrifice – then work on a realistic budget. Be wary if all the sacrifices seem to be expected of you.