14 Sep 2016 Numurkah Leader, Numurkah VIC (General News) VICTIMS of financial abuse in the Moira Shire, will have access to new specially trained financial counsellors, thanks to a $1.75m State Government funding package. Financial abuse is a form of family violence where perpetrators take full control of victims finances, rendering them dependent and trapped in abusive relationships. Northern Victoria MP Jaclyn Symes said recruitment and training is under way for financial counsellors, who will be placed in agencies across country Victoria, including Moira. Ms Symes said these initiatives that target financial abuse will go a long way to helping victims and those at risk in country Victoria. Specialised private and confidential counselling services will help financial abuse survivors and victims in country Victoria create a better life for themselves, she said. This is an Australian first, financial counsellors specifically helping victims of family violence or financial abuse is a key response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission. Financial counsellors will help people in abusive relationships negotiate with creditors and debt collectors, protect assets from repossession and help victims access financial hardship programs. The funding will be used to employ 10 new, full-time family violence financial counsellors and provide financial abuse training to all Victorian financial counsellors. It will also help industries, including utilities, telecommunications and finance, develop guidelines to respond to family violence and financial abuse. This new funding is in addition to a $7.8m financial counselling program run by Consumer Affairs Victoria. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.