Payment to Help DV Victims
A one-off payment of up to $5,000 to help women establish a life free of violence is now available through the Federal Government.
Under the two-year Escaping Violence Payment trial women will receive financial assistance of up to $1,500 in cash with the remainder available for goods and services or direct payments of bonds, school fees or other support to help establish a safe home.
The UnitingCare Australia Consortium has been selected as the service provider to deliver the payments and will also support women to engage with other relevant services that support women and their children.
This includes other Commonwealth or state and territory government funded community services.
Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston said the payments would help address the financial barriers that may stop women leaving violent relationships.
“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,” Minister Ruston said. “The new Escaping Violence Payment aims to help address those issues, so women have more security when making that brave decision to leave any form of intimate partner violence – including physical violence, coercive control and financial abuse.”
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 Escaping Violence Cash is not considered taxable or reportable income and will not impact any other social security pays a recipient may be receiving.
More information is available at unitingvictas.org. au/escaping-violence-pay.If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au
