SBS News in Australia reports that women escaping domestic violence can receive up to $5000 in federal payments. The program is gender-neutral, yet SBS misleadingly reports it as only accessible to women, potentially discouraging men from attempting to use it

LoveHotelCondom · 2021-10-19T06:11:13+00:00

Women and children leaving a violent relationship now have access to a one-off payment of up to $5,000 under a new trial scheme.

The support will include up to $1,500 in cash, with the remainder of the money available for goods and services or direct payments of bonds, school fees, or other essential items to help establish a safe home.

The Escaping Violence Payment was announced in the May budget as part of a $1.1 billion women’s safety package of programs.

One in six women experiences partner violence in Australia, compared to one in 17 men, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

One in six women and one in ten men also experience abuse before the age of 15.

The payment is not considered taxable or reportable income, and will not impact any other social security payments a recipient may be getting.

Eligibility includes financial stress and evidence of domestic violence, which includes, but is not limited to, a referral from a family and domestic violence service provider with a risk assessment and safety plan, an AVO, court order, or a police report.

Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston said the payments will help address the financial barriers that may stop women leaving violent relationships.

“We know that financial hardship as well as economic abuse, which may involve interfering with work or controlling or withholding money, reduces women’s ability to acquire and use money and makes it difficult to leave violent relationships,” she said in a statement on Sunday.

“The payments will assist people who need financial support to leave. We know the size of the house a woman is fleeing doesn’t matter – often she bundles the kids into the car, maybe the dog too and they leave with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.”

UnitingCare Australia national director Claerwen Little said the payment will help women to access some of the essentials needed to create a safe home for themselves and their children.

“The UnitingCare Network has extensive experience supporting victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence and staff would leverage that knowledge to provide a wrap-around service for women and their children,” Ms Little said.

“We believe that all people, especially women and their children, have the right to live freely and without fear, and this payment is an important step forward to ending violence against women and their children."

The two-year trial will be independently evaluated to assess the benefit of the payment, including demand, eligibility criteria, needs of specific cohorts, and how it works with related services.

...

The article continues more, citing cases of violence against women.

Conspicuously absent from it is the fact that the Escaping Violence Payment is (supposedly) available to anyone who has recently left or is leaving a violent partner.

Of course, with Australia's track record of treating male victims of domestic violence, the article may very well be right that it is effectively only available to women. Male domestic violence victims have been overlooked and treated as perpetrators. According to official reports, 1/3 of the victims of domestic violence in Australia are men, although that number is likely much higher due to the fact that the source of this was police reports--a resource few men dare to use when battered.

With that said, this report is intentionally misleading, and could discourage men from seeking help. It's absolutely disgusting reporting by SBS News and it is sadly little surprise that an Australian media outlet would intentionally try to mislead men into feeling as if they had fewer options.

mikesteane · 2021-10-19T09:21:05+00:00

“We believe that all people, especially women and their children, have the right to live freely and without fear"

TheColdHardTruth6 · 2021-10-19T11:07:22+00:00

This program should be accessible to anyone that is in an abusive relationship and doesn't make enough money to support themselves.

WeEatBabies · 2021-10-19T14:16:23+00:00

In other words, live in Australia, claim domestic violence, collect 5000$

2021-10-19T13:09:42+00:00

Yeah gender-neutral my asshole. Perhaps in name only, not in practice for the most part.

BlueChair0 · 2021-10-19T07:29:31+00:00

Yeah, I fucking hate my country. There’s a reason why we have one of the highest male suicide rates

Aspie96 · 2021-10-19T20:58:13+00:00

I was actually about to share this in this sub as good news.

This can genuinely help male victims of domestic violence.

Unfortunately in some cases real discrimination exists and some things (such as anti-violence centers in my country) are only available to women. This, luckly, is gender neutral.

It's good news!

The original source should be shared instead of articles about it.

Criket · 2021-10-19T20:35:50+00:00

Women claiming DV received a similar help here in Canada, no wonder so much false accusation are laid down.

MAVP1234 · 2021-10-19T20:04:20+00:00

It’s a discriminatory policy. Should be illegal

escaping violence policy](https://ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releases/7676)

There is already several other financial benefits for women only.

reddut_gang · 2021-10-19T19:28:46+00:00

I'm glad it's not the other way around, aka not being gender neutral and marketed as otherwise.

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