AUSTRALIAN of the Year Rosie Batty has a strong message for community banks - family violence crisis centres need funding and financial abuse is something that entraps women and children in violent situations.
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Speaking at the Community Bank National Conference in Bendigo on Tuesday Ms Batty said family violence did not always come in the form of a black eye or broken limb.
“You, as part of a community bank, need to be very much aware of the financial abuse and the financial imbalance that absolutely penetrates our society,” she said.
For Ms Batty the picture of financial abuse was contained in a letter from a woman who was middle-class, middle-aged and had a beautiful house, but was held in a toxic, violent relationship.
“Finally she got the courage to leave, but that has placed her into poverty, because he has been able to control all of their financial assets,” Ms Batty said.
“She was homeless. A well-to-do woman, who has never been in poverty in her life, overnight was destitute.”
Ms Batty stressed psychological violence was one of the most dangerous forms, exemplified by her own horrific case.
She had never been physically assaulted by her former partner Greg, but was psychologically abused.
“It was very, very difficult for people to understand how debilitating it was,” she said.
“He was able to kill his son, who he loved very much, because, you see, violence isn't about anger management.
“Violence is about power and control, at any cost.
“So when ugly words and put-down language lose some of their effect or control, violence has to escalate.
“When he killed Luke, (it) was a final act of power control. To take my son, to make me suffer for the rest of my life as a final act of revenge.”
She said the hope of assisting other women in violent relationships helped her push through the trauma of her son’s murder 18 months ago.
If you are experiencing sexual assault or domestic and family violence, ring 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
