The Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre has partnered with the Zahra Foundation to provide a dedicated financial counsellor to support women recovering from domestic, family and sexual violence.
This free and confidential service will provide vital support to women experiencing financial hardship, debt, or financial control or abuse.
The partnership’s financial counsellor, Terri Northam, will be at the Centre in Shellharbour four days a week and will be able to provide a safe, trauma-informed space to help women explore options and take steps toward economic independence.
The Zahra Foundation was founded in South Australia in response to the death of Zahra Abrahaza Day, who was killed in a public setting by her husband.
Her children established the Foundation to create the services they believed might have helped their mother – specifically, support for women in the recovery phase, with a strong focus on economic independence.
CEO of the Zahra Foundation, Kelly-Ann Tansley said research shows that financial abuse is present in up to 80 per cent of domestic and family violence situations.
“Our data is really clear when women get access to specialist financial counsellors, they can see a pathway forward, and they don’t feel that they’ve got no choice but to return back to dangerous and abusive situations. They start to feel confident that their future is not going to look like extreme poverty or homelessness,” Ms Tansley said.
“Working with the counsellors and case managers here in the Centre and being able to offer this essential service was a no-brainer for us. We’re thrilled to be here.”
The service will include support with debt, rebuilding credit, understanding bank accounts, negotiating with creditors, identifying signs of financial coercion, and learning strategies to regain control over money safely.
Maree Kerr, CEO of the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre said the service was vital to support women on their recovery journey.
“Our partnership with the Zahra Foundation is an important step in addressing one of the most significant barriers to recovery – financial insecurity,” said Ms Kerr.
“By having a financial counsellor on-site, we can offer women immediate, specialised support to begin rebuilding their financial independence in a safe and supportive environment. This service is an essential part of helping women move forward with confidence and dignity.”
To find out how our financial counsellor can support you or to find out more about our services, contact the Centre.
