Escaping Violence Payment

The Escaping Violence Payment  is available for people 18+ who have recently experienced family violence, have a changed living situation and are experiencing financial stress.

If you have recently left and you are struggling with finances to live your life in safety, you could be eligible for up to $5,000 domestic violence financial assistance:

• Up to $1500 in cash (or cash equivalent based on your needs and preferences)
• Goods and services such as removalists, bonds or basics for a new home
• Wrap-around support including casework from the Escaping Violence Payment provider.
• You do not need to be connected to Uniting to access the program. If you are already working with a family violence support service, talk to them about what to do next.

Who is eligible for Escaping Violence Payment?

The $5000 domestic violence payment through Uniting Care Domestic Violence Payment EVP program is available if a person meets these eligibility requirements:

• Australian citizen or permanent resident aged over 18, living in Australia and have not accessed EVP in the last 12 months.
• Within 12 weeks of leaving a perpetrator or leave a violent partner their normal shared place of residence because of intimate partner, family or domestic violence, or if there is a safe, secure plan in place to leave soon.
• Experiencing financial stress, are unable to meet financial commitments and maintain financial independence through these changed living circumstances

How do I access the Escaping Violence Payment?

If you already have a case worker, speak with them about the EVP as they can help you with your eligibility and application. If you are not connected to a case worker or support service, you can contact the EVP team who can assist you with the application process.

You do not need to be a client of the UnitingCare Network to access the payment and you can also be referred by any family violence or other support service. If you already have a case worker, they can help you work out if you are eligible and apply for the EVP with you. If you are not in contact with a service, you can apply directly via the eligibility form on this website.

The eligibility information and contact form can be found here.

Where to submit your Escaping Violence Payment application?

The family violence payment program is provided by the UnitingCare network, including UnitingCare Australia with 9 support services around the country linking into state and national family violence services.

The delivery partners in each state for the Escaping Violence Payment program are:

Services we provide for Escaping Violence Payment.

At Protective Group, we take pride in delivering quality, client focused safety services from start to finish, regardless of how complex the situation may be. Ultimately, our top priority is to ensure our clients feel safe and secure at all times.

Our services are varied, but all are designed with one purpose in mind: to keep vulnerable people and organisations safe. We keep individuals and families safe in domestic violence situations.

We work with corporations large and small – including law firms and insurance companies – to mitigate and overcome on and offline threats. And we ensure the safety of the homeless and those sleeping rough. If anyone, anywhere finds themselves being threatened or in immediate danger, we’ll implement strategies and solutions to beat the perpetrators at their own game, bringing peace and stability back into victims’ lives.

Protective Group can assist with quotes for goods and services if required when accessing the domestic violence support payment though Uniting Care Escaping Violence Payment scheme.

Safety tip

Right now across Australia, there are thousands of individuals, families and organisations that are the victims of various types of abuse, be it Physical, Emotional or Technology– there are many forms of abuse.

Visit our Safety Tips page to find tips on how you can break the cycle of abuse and remain safe in your home, transport and mobile devices.

Leaving a DV relationship

Checklist after Financial Abuse

DV in the Workplace

Emergency Bag Checklist

Survivor Stories

Evidence shows us that there’s power in Domestic Violence Victim Survivor Stories– not just for the sake of healing and processing the experiences that were inflicted upon them (which is absolutely vital), but also for collective social good. Domestic Violence Survivor stories place the power of the narrative back into the hands of the survivor, allowing them to turn something awful that they had no control over into something that they can now use for good – to share how they overcame. To share how they healed. To inspire those who are going through the same thing right now that they are so worthy of a better life, and victory is possible.

Often a victim may deny the warning signs as they may be emotionally or financially reliant or parent a child to the perpetrator. An individual may fear they won’t be believed or will be victim-blamed. They can feel ashamed and might even blame themselves.

Warning: These escaping domestic violence victim survivor stories feature descriptions of physical and emotional abuse which may be distressing to some viewers.

If you are experiencing family violence or domestic violence and require service support or advice contact 1800 RESPECT.