Migrants and refugee survivors of financial abuse and domestic violence are being left in danger: Curtin study

Migrant and refugee survivors of family and domestic violence in WA are being left in danger due to gaps in the system that make it harder for them to seek help, Curtin University researchers have found. Many women interviewed for the study did not have their own bank accounts, some did not know what visa they had, or how to navigate through the system to obtain a family violence restraining order. The SHAKTI research findings, based on interviews with 27 financial and domestic violence victims across 17 nationalities, have prompted its authors to call for urgent action to better protect this vulnerable group of women. The interviews, conducted in 2023 and 2024, showed that isolation, economic hardship, emotional abuse and visa vulnerabilities continue to hurt FDV survivors. “They are isolated from their families, nine of the women didn’t know what visa they were on in Australia, and there were issues of economic violence, with many not having their own bank accounts,” said the study’s lead author, Curtin professor Jaya Dantas. “Those that were on temporary visas can’t receive Centrelink or Medicare. They need advice on custody issues, how to navigate family violence restraining orders and financial settlements and all of this has financial costs that these women don’t have.” Professor Dantas said a lack of available and culturally appropriate refuges and the ongoing housing crisis made it almost impossible for women to flee to safety. “It’s hard, they fall through the cracks, sometimes they have to stay in an unsafe home or with friends,” she said. “Despite immense hardship, the women who took part in this project showed extraordinary resilience. Their insights tell us exactly what needs to be done to make services more supportive and accessible.” As part of the Healthway-funded project researchers, participants and frontline agencies created a self-help and safety intervention tool to empower women to recognise abuse, plan for safety and access support. The team had been looking at how the COVID pandemic affected WA women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The authors, who included professor Donna Chung, Dr Jonathan Hallett and associate professor Sender Dovchin, made eight recommendations to better support vulnerable women. They included a review of visa support for migrant women escaping FDV, increasing financial support and transitional accommodation, increasing language learning programs and making greater provision for psychological support. A separate report also released this week during the 16 Days in WA campaign show community awareness of financial abuse and coercive control was improving. Eighty per cent of 1000 WA adults surveyed for Bankwest’s fifth annual Hidden Costs report said they were aware of what coercive control was, which represents an 11 per cent increase from last year. Ninety-five per cent were aware of financial abuse, but alarmingly, 68 per cent of West Australians were unable to name a support service. Bankwest’s Jodene Murphy said that figure was too high. “It is critical the finance sector continue to build awareness of one of the hidden costs of family violence,” she said. Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski said financial abuse was a common form of coercive control that sought to limit an individual’s access to independence and free choice. “We know it has devastating consequences for those impacted and can lead to individuals feeling trapped in abusive relationships,” she said.