It's one of the most common forms of domestic violence. Why does it still go unrecognised and unreported?

Migrant women in Australia are at higher risk of experiencing domestic violence including lesser known forms such as financial abuse.

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In Australia, 90 per cent of women who have sought support for domestic violence have experienced financial abuse, and experts say migrant women are more at risk.

Warning: Distressing content

Yasmin* met her husband through an arranged marriage. But when she migrated to Australia, his loving behaviour changed.

He controlled money Yasmin's family had gifted her for emergencies, used their parenting payments for his personal expenses, spent money she had saved, and discouraged her from working.

For seven years, Yasmin stayed in hopes of saving the marriage. Eventually, with the support of friends, she reported her husband's abuse to the police. Now, she's a working single mother.

Yasmin experienced many forms of domestic violence, but she said it began with financial abuse.

"It may start out as something very subtle, like suggesting that you get a joint account and pay your income into that joint account, or that they're used to managing money and are better at it," said Caroline Wall, Head of Customer Vulnerability at the Commonwealth Bank.

"More concerning signs that may indicate financial abuse are things like being forced to take out either credit or other loans in your name that you're not getting a benefit from . . . partners refusing to let their partners work, [being] asked to provide receipts or justify all of your spending on a day to day basis, and having to ask for access to even small amounts of money for everyday necessities."

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Dr Farjana Mahbuba is leading research investigating financial abuse against Bangladeshi migrant women living in Australia.

She said the most common barriers that stop migrant women from escaping domestic violence are social and cultural expectations, visa requirements, and misinformation and a lack of knowledge about police and the legal system.

But the most influential motivator was the support of a friend.

"I didn't find one single case where the women were able to leave an abusive relationship without the help of someone. No one could do that by themselves," she said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the national domestic, family and sexual violence hotline 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

*Name has been changed

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