Financial Independence Hub

For immediate crisis support, see below:

In an emergency please call 000

If life is tough, Lifeline is there to listen.

Call 13 11 14

Text 0477 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au

To talk about domestic violence or sexual abuse, call 1800 737 732

OR text 0458 737 732 OR chat online at 1800respect.org.au

Have you been through family and domestic violence and lost confidence with money?

The Financial Independence Hub (FIH) is a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL recovery service to help you move forward.

We can support you if you have previously experienced Family and Domestic Violence and the financial impacts of this.

If someone has tried to control you with money, it could be financial abuse. They might have left you with debt. Or controlled how much you work.

Feel more confident with money and make your own choices. We’ll listen, we won’t judge, and we’ll help you get back on track.

Call us on 1300 050 150 – CLICK the button below to call.

Mon – Fri, 9am – 6pm (Syd/Mel time)

You can also email us at fih@gs.slantstaging.com.au.

*Interpreter services available

Call Us

The Financial Independence Hub does not provide immediate financial assistance.

To apply for immediate financial assistance for material aide (for example; groceries, utility bills) please visit Ask Izzy to find your nearest provider.

Ask Izzy

Has financial abuse happened to you?

What are the signs of financial abuse? They control all the money. They make you feel useless.

We can help you sort through the mess.

Click here to learn more about financial abuse.

‘Financial abuse left me feeling very lost’ ‘ashamed’ ‘low confidence’ ‘sub-human’.

‘Rather than being co-dependent, I needed to find my independence.’

Hear their stories – click here.

‘When it was all over, I was left with nothing except a pile of debt.’ It’s hard to know what to do next.

Get support to move forward – click here.

"I felt more confident with money, that I was back in control."

Survivors of financial and domestic abuse may be left with a mountain of debt, have poor credit scores, or just find it hard to deal with money. If you’ve been through a situation where someone has tried to control you with money, work or other financial matters, we can help you sort things out.

The Financial Independence Hub (FIH) is a free recovery program to help people get back on track. We’ll listen, we’ll understand, and we won’t judge you.

If you’re ready to move forward, or just want to chat, we’re here to support you.

Want to get in contact with The Financial Independence Hub?

I want to get in touch for myself I want to refer someone else into FIH

The Financial Independence Hub supports people of all gender identities who:

have experienced the financial impacts of domestic violence and ANY kind of financial abuse 
you are not in immediate danger or crisis. Rather in recovery and are ready to consider your financial future
are over 18 years old and live in Australia

You do not have to be a permanent resident or have a visa. We can organise an interpreter if you need one.

The Financial Independence Hub (FIH) is FREE and completely confidential recovery service. It’s available to you regardless of where you live, or who you bank with. You do not need to provide evidence or tell your story to access the service.

Talking to one of our coaches may help you:

feel more confident about dealing with money and making decisions
be more in control of your finances
find it easier to manage things independently
work through debt and options to reduce it

The coaching program will provide you with 6 fortnightly sessions each tailored to help you work toward your most important financial goals.

We’ll work together to build your knowledge, strengthen your financial skills, and connect you with the right tools and resources to support your journey toward financial independence.

In the final session, we’ll reflect on your progress, celebrate your achievements, and create a personalised roadmap so you feel confident continuing your journey after the coaching program ends.

YOUR sessions are tailored to you. YOU decide how we can support you.

Are you a worker/volunteer wanting to refer your client to FIH?

Click through to fill out the client referral form

Refer your client here

Understanding financial abuse

You have left the abusive situation and are taking steps to move forward

After you’ve left the abusive situation, having physical space may give you an opportunity to focus on your recovery and feel ready to think about the future.

You might still have ‘ties’ to the perpetrator (for example, they may need to pay child support, or you still have accounts in both names, or there are court proceedings pending).

But having your own space can help you process what’s happened and think more clearly about what to do next. Talking with your FIH coach can be a ‘safe space’ where you can figure things out.

If you did not have access to your own money

Your dedicated Financial Independence Hub (FIH) coach can support you to open and manage your own bank account. They can help you work through your expenses. They can work with you to sort out any outstanding bills or payments.

If you’d like, your coach can talk you through how to put together a budget and develop financial goals.

If you'd like to talk about money and finances - in a safe environment

Talking about money can feel strange and uncomfortable. Especially if money has always been a source of arguments. We encourage you to ask questions around money and finances – and there’s no such thing as a ‘dumb’ question.

Your FIH coach can answer your questions in a way that makes sense and is not complicated. We take a trauma-informed approach and work with your strengths.

Your coach can also help you apply for a No Interest Loan if you need to pay for essentials like bond or car rego, a washing machine, phone or a laptop, or education or medical expenses.

If you're not sure you experienced financial abuse

You might know 100% that what you went through was financial abuse. Or you might not be sure. Our friendly and trained team of coordinators and coaches can help you better understand your situation and what to do next.

There’s no right or wrong way to move forward. Go at your own pace. We’ll walk alongside you every step of the way.

If you've found out about debt in your name

Your FIH coach can refer you to a specialist financial counsellor to explore your options. Being left with debt can be scary and confusing. Talking with someone who understands and won’t judge you, can help you decide what to do next.

If someone has stopped you from working or studying

Your FIH coach can talk to you about your goals.

Do you want to find a job, or go back to school? Maybe you’ve always wanted to start your own business but weren’t “allowed” to. Do you need support dealing with Centrelink?

Your coach can help you put together a plan, one step at a time, to get through this.