Sexually Transmitted Debt

Leaving an abusive relationship can be fraught. But when a person has finally made the break from his or her abuser, they may still be mired in the former partner’s debt – often with little legal recourse.
Poor credit ratings, gas and electricity disconnection, loss of property and even bankruptcy – these are some of the serious side effects of economic abuse. It’s a form of family violence that is under-examined, despite its crippling long-term effects.
How can our financial institutions and justice system do better to help those impacted by economic abuse? How do we raise the profile of this common but under-reported area of covert abuse? And what precautions should all of us take when entering into new life stages and new relationships?
Join us for a frank and informative conversation with Larke Riemer – who has knowledge of the issue from both sides, through her work in the finance industry and as someone who has personally incurred ‘sexually transmitted debt’ – Donna Letchford from Women’s Legal Service Victoria, and economic abuse survivor Christine Craik. Hosted by Santilla Chingaipe.
This event will be Auslan interpreted.
Featuring

Larke Riemer has been a CARE Australia Director since 2015. Until recently, she was Director, Women’s Markets, for Westpac Banking Corporation. She spent over 31 years with the Westpac Group, is a regular commentator in the media on issues relating to women and the female economy and has been awar... Read more

Christine Craik is a social worker, working mainly in health and crisis work with women and children dealing with family violence and/or child sexual abuse. She has worked for 12 years in the response team at the Alfred Hospital, working with families of trauma patients. Christine lectures in the s... Read more

Donna Letchford is a financial counsellor at Women’s Legal Service Victoria, working with women who are dealing with family violence and predominantly economic abuse. She became a financial counsellor in 2001 after a career in the banking industry of over two decades. In her work at Women’... Read more

Santilla Chingaipe is a journalist and filmmaker whose work explores migration, cultural identities and politics. She is a regular contributor to the Saturday Paper, and serves as a member of the Federal Government’s Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations (AGAAR). Chingaipe wrote and direc... Read more
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