conference proceedings
Counting the Cost – Building Capacity
Fostering women’s financial security following violent relationships
Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse, 10 March 2010, University of New South Wales
The Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse has been commissioned by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) to conduct primary research around women’s financial security during and following violent intimate relationships. Following interviews and focus groups with 57 women affected by domestic violence and 50 workers, conducted in 2009, research findings were presented at the Counting the Cost – Building Capacity forum in Sydney on 10 March 2010.
Around 90 workers, researchers, policy makers and advocates attended and participated in workshop discussions about four key areas affecting women’s financial security covered in the research: debts, bills and banking; social security, child support and employment; accommodation; and legal matters.
Participants engaged in a series of workshops over the course of the day to identify key responses that would assist in building women’s financial capacity and promoting opportunities for their financial independence. The forum concluded with a panel session showcasing strategies that had been identified in the research as especially innovative.
A summary of observations and recommendations on these four key areas are presented here:
The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse all the observations and recommendations but will draw on these to inform the research.
The findings of the project will be presented at a meeting with key government agencies, along with the workshop outcomes, to identify responses that agencies can make to address women’s financial security. A final report of the project will be presented to FaHCSIA later in the year.
