Aussie Women Can Get Access To $5,000 Domestic Violence Support Payments From Today

Australian women will be eligible for a $5,000 payment from today (October 19) as an incentive to leave an abusive relationship.

The federal government announced plans for a financial support system during the 2021-22 Budget to help women get out of a situation that is emotionally or physically abusive.

The Morrison government explained that many women refuse to leave their problematic partners because they know they won't be able to support themselves on their own.

The Escaping Violence Payment will consist of a cash payment of up to $1,500 and the remaining $3,500 will go towards essentials like food or bills.

The UnitingCare Australia Consortium will be providing the funds for the initiative and they will also connect women with vital services to ensure they land on their feet when they leave their partner.

Minister for Women's Safety Anne Ruston is hopeful this will go a long way in lowering the rates of domestic violence because it will give victims an incentive to leave.

She said in a statement: "We know that financial hardship as well as economic abuse, which may involve interfering with work or controlling or withholding money, reduces women's ability to acquire and use money and makes it difficult to leave violent relationships.

"We know the size of the house a woman is fleeing doesn't matter - often she bundles the kids into the car, maybe the dog too and they leave with nothing more than the clothes on their backs."

UnitingCare Australia National Director Claerwen Little added: "The UnitingCare Network has extensive experience supporting victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence, and staff would leverage that knowledge to provide a wrap-around service for women and their children.

"As part of the individualised support packages, UnitingCare Network agencies will provide tailored assistance and engage with other relevant agencies that support women and their children including other Commonwealth or state and territory government-funded community services."

The payment won't be available to men who are also in abusive relationships.

For a woman to be eligible, they have to show evidence of domestic violence at home, which can include something like a police report, an Apprehended Violence Order or a referral from an industry specialist.

The Morrison government said the payment will be trialled for two years.

Once that time has elapsed, authorities will assess whether to keep the program going.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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