Latest news with #EscapingViolencePayment

The Age
11 hours ago
- The Age
100,000 people have accessed this payment. Now it's being made permanent
More than 100,000 people have accessed up to $5000 each in financial help to leave violent relationships over the past four years as the program becomes permanent from July. The two-year Escaping Violence Payment trial – which was introduced in October 2021 under the Coalition – was extended by the Labor government and will be made permanent under the new Leaving Violence Program. From next week, victim-survivors who are planning to leave, or have recently left, a violent intimate partner relationship will be eligible to receive up to $5000 in financial support. As many as one in four women in Australia and one in 14 men experience violence by an intimate partner from the age of 15. A report this month by the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health revealed about one in three men had used a form of intimate partner violence as an adult. An evaluation of the Escaping Violence Payment trial in 2023 found nine out of 10 people who received the payment were women and more than a quarter were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The average amount accessed was $4224 – including a cap of $1500 in cash and the rest in goods, services and support such as counselling and legal services. Economic insecurity is a major barrier for many people looking to leave a violent partner, especially women. While women's workforce participation in Australia has grown over the years, the proportion of women employed is about six in 10 compared with nearly seven in 10 men, the Australian Bureau of Statistics says. Women are also more likely to work part-time and earn less, often putting them in a more vulnerable position. An ABS survey in 2021-22 of 1.5 million women who had experienced violence by a previous partner showed roughly two in five had separated. Of these, one in five returned to their partners because of a lack of financial resources. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the Leaving Violence Program would make it easier for women to leave violent relationships safely, and to provide for their family.


West Australian
20 hours ago
- West Australian
Leaving Violence Program made permanent as trial helps 100,000 people flee intimate partner violence
A trial program that has helped more than 100,000 people leave violent partners will become a permanent fixture from Tuesday. The Leaving Violence Program will give victim-survivors access to up to $5000 in financial support, and will be available to those who are planning to leave or have recently left a violent intimate partner relationship. It builds on the success of the Federal Government's two-year Escaping Violence Payment trial, which saw more than 100,000 people access the payment. 'We want women fleeing violence to know that financial support is available,' Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said. One of many who accessed the trial was a woman who fled a former relationship after noticing behaviours she described as becoming progressively more controlling. She fled her ex-partner after he assaulted her, and then threatened to kill her if she went to the police, driving to a new city in the middle of the night with her cat. Fearing for her safety, the woman slept in her car for several days. It wasn't until she was dropping her cat off to a carer that she was told about the EVP trial. Her application was accepted. Once engaged with the service, the woman was supported in seeking help from her GP, finding new accommodation and managing her finances with assistance of the payment. The trial has helped tens of thousands of other women secure accommodation, pay rent, buy food and other household goods, as well as school uniforms and supplies. Ms Plibersek said making the program permanent will help women feel supported to safely leave violent relationships. 'People often ask, 'Why doesn't she leave?' What we should ask is, 'Where would she go?' and 'What help is available?',' Ms Plibersek said. Economic insecurity is a key barrier to people leaving violent partners. The Australian Bureau of Statistics' 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey estimates more than a quarter of Australian women have experienced violence, emotional abuse or economic abuse by a cohabiting partner. Of those women, almost one in five experienced economic abuse. The new National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses 2025 will also begin on Tuesday. Delivered with State and Territory governments, the renewed partnership will deliver more than $700 million in new, matched investments from the Commonwealth, States and Territories. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) MensLine Australia 1300 789 978

Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
100,000 people have accessed this payment. Now, it's being made permanent
More than 100,000 people have accessed up to $5000 each in financial help to leave violent relationships over the past four years, with the program set to become permanent from July. The two-year Escaping Violence Payment trial – which was introduced in October 2021 under the Coalition – was extended by the Labor government and will be made permanent under the new Leaving Violence Program. From next week, victim-survivors who are planning to leave, or have recently left, a violent intimate partner relationship will be eligible to receive up to $5000 in financial support. As many as one in four women in Australia and one in 14 men experience violence by an intimate partner from the age of 15. A report this month by the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health revealed about one in three men had used a form of intimate partner violence as an adult. An evaluation of the Escaping Violence Payment trial in 2023 found nine out of 10 people who received the payment were women and more than a quarter were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The average amount accessed was $4224 – including a cap of $1500 in cash and the rest in goods, services and support such as counselling and legal services. Economic insecurity is a major barrier for many people looking to leave a violent partner, especially women. While women's workforce participation in Australia has grown over the years, the proportion of women employed is about six in 10 compared with nearly seven in 10 men, the Australian Bureau of Statistics says. Women are also more likely to work part-time and earn less, often putting them in a more vulnerable position. An ABS survey in 2021-22 of 1.5 million women who had experienced violence by a previous partner showed roughly two in five had separated. Of these, one in five returned to their partners because of a lack of financial resources. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the Leaving Violence Program would make it easier for women to leave violent relationships safely, and to provide for their family.

The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
100,000 people have accessed this payment. Now, it's being made permanent
More than 100,000 people have accessed up to $5000 each in financial help to leave violent relationships over the past four years, with the program set to become permanent from July. The two-year Escaping Violence Payment trial – which was introduced in October 2021 under the Coalition – was extended by the Labor government and will be made permanent under the new Leaving Violence Program. From next week, victim-survivors who are planning to leave, or have recently left, a violent intimate partner relationship will be eligible to receive up to $5000 in financial support. As many as one in four women in Australia and one in 14 men experience violence by an intimate partner from the age of 15. A report this month by the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health revealed about one in three men had used a form of intimate partner violence as an adult. An evaluation of the Escaping Violence Payment trial in 2023 found nine out of 10 people who received the payment were women and more than a quarter were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The average amount accessed was $4224 – including a cap of $1500 in cash and the rest in goods, services and support such as counselling and legal services. Economic insecurity is a major barrier for many people looking to leave a violent partner, especially women. While women's workforce participation in Australia has grown over the years, the proportion of women employed is about six in 10 compared with nearly seven in 10 men, the Australian Bureau of Statistics says. Women are also more likely to work part-time and earn less, often putting them in a more vulnerable position. An ABS survey in 2021-22 of 1.5 million women who had experienced violence by a previous partner showed roughly two in five had separated. Of these, one in five returned to their partners because of a lack of financial resources. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the Leaving Violence Program would make it easier for women to leave violent relationships safely, and to provide for their family.