Breaking the chains: detecting and preventing financial abuse for vulnerable women in NSW

Breaking the chains of financial abuse: helping women in NSW recognise harm sooner

Financial abuse is often invisible; it does not always look like harm; it can mask itself as care.  

One person in the relationship who manages the money, questions spending and restricts access ‘for protection’.

These behaviours sit in a ‘grey zone’. They may feel normal, even protective but they can also be early signs of control. 

At the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), a research project is shining a light on these hidden patterns. Led by Dr Amir Armanious, with contributors Professor Dave Michayluk, Professor Phoebe Bailey and Dr Jing Xu, the project was supported by a UTS Social Impact Grant.  

Why financial abuse is often missed 

Financial abuse is one of the least understood forms of domestic and family violence. Yet it is widespread. 

Dr Armanious describes financial abuse as “one of the most hidden forms of domestic abuse, quiet, easily excused, and often unrecognised until significant harm is done.” 

In Australia, one in four women has experienced domestic violence. Around 90 percent of those women also experience financial abuse. 

Despite this, many warning signs are overlooked.“Financial abuse is often normalised, especially in its early stages,” says Dr Armanious. “That makes it harder to identify and even harder to prevent.” 

Understanding this gap, between harm and perception, was the focus of the research. 

Testing how people recognise abuse 

To explore this, the research team designed a scenario-based survey grounded in real-life situations.

Participants were asked to assess 25 everyday financial behaviours, ranging from clearly acceptable to clearly abusive. 

The survey also explored personality traits, gender attitudes, and prior awareness. In its first phase, more than 700 undergraduate and postgraduate students participated.

The results revealed a clear pattern.

The ‘grey zone’ where harm is normalised 

Participants consistently recognised severe financial abuse. 

But moderate behaviours told a different story. 

Interestingly, women were more likely to see these behaviours as abusive whilst men were more likely to see them as acceptable, or even protective.  

“This gap is critical. It shows that the greatest risk is not always extreme behaviour,” Dr Armanious explains. “It’s the normalisation of control in everyday situations.” 

Certain attitudes shaped these perceptions, with beliefs that framed controlling behaviour as care, influencing how participants judged these scenarios. 

This makes early-stage abuse harder to identify and easier to excuse. 

Building awareness through lived reflection

For many participants, the research itself became a learning moment.

As they moved through the scenarios, they began to question assumptions and reflect on behaviours they had not previously recognised as harmful. 

“Participants told us the scenarios felt very real,” says Dr Armanious. “Some said it helped them see things differently.” 

This shift matters because recognising financial abuse is the first step towards preventing it. 

The study also found that awareness and lived experience improved people’s ability to identify abuse, reinforcing the importance of education and early intervention.  

From research to practice and policy

The project was co-designed with practitioners working on the frontline of financial hardship and domestic violence. 

Partners included the Financial Counsellors Association of NSW and Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand.  

Their input ensured the research reflects real-world experiences. 

“The aim is not just academic,” says Dr Armanious. “It’s about giving practitioners better tools to identify financial abuse early, especially in those grey areas.”  

The findings are already helping to inform: 

• training for financial counsellors and support workers
• education programs on financial literacy and financial abuse policy
• conversations on domestic and family violence. 

By improving early detection, the research supports earlier intervention and better outcomes for vulnerable women.

What’s next for the research 

This project marks an important first step.

The next phase will expand to include a larger and more diverse group of participants, including women with lived experience of financial abuse.  

The team is also developing practical tools, including: 

• scenario-based training modules for professionals such as financial counsellors, banking staff and legal practitioners 
• public education resources 
• self-assessment tools to help individuals recognise warning signs. 
   

Alongside this, the research will inform academic publications and future funding applications to scale its impact. 

Changing how we understand financial abuse

This research challenges a common assumption that abuse is always obvious.  

Instead, it shows that harm can be insidious and often begins in small, everyday behaviours. Quiet, subtle, and easy to overlook.

By focusing on how people interpret these behaviours, the project offers a new path forward. 

“By understanding perception, we can improve prevention,” says Dr Armanious. 

“We can help people recognise financial abuse earlier and break the cycle.” 

With thanks to:

UTS contributors and partners: 

Prof Dave Michayluk, Prof Phoebe Bailey and Dr Jing Xu 

External partners: 

Ms Jo Parker, Financial Counsellors Association of NSW and Dr Dave Vicary, Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand

Get involved 

If you are working in financial counselling, community services, domestic violence or policy, this research offers practical insights you can apply today.