How to talk about money in relationships
Talking about money can feel awkward, especially if there is a difference of opinion, we don’t feel informed, or something doesn’t seem fair.
WIRE’s Respectful Financial Relationships Conversation Kit is a practical guide to help you have clear, respectful and confident conversations about money with partners, family, friends or service providers.
Respectful Financial Relationships Conversation Kit
This free resource includes:
- What respectful financial relationships look like
- How to talk about money without conflict
- Tips for navigating power imbalances and financial abuse
- Step-by-step guides for planning and having money conversations
- Real-life video examples of respectful and disrespectful conversations
- Advice for talking to children and service providers about money
- Signs of financial abuse and where to get help
Whether you’re managing shared expenses, setting boundaries, or recognising red flags, this this kit can help you feel more confident and in control of your financial wellbeing.
Download the full Conversation Kit here
When is the right time to talk about money?
There’s no single “right” time to talk about money. These conversations can happen at different points, and you can come back to them when you’re ready.
It’s common to feel unsure or uncomfortable when talking about money, especially in relationships. However, if money is being used to control you, limit your independence, or exclude you from decisions, this may be a sign of financial abuse. Financial abuse is one of the most common—and least recognised—forms of family violence.
The information below shares insights from WIRE’s research on how and when people affected by family violence prefer to receive financial information and support.
Key insights from the research
80–99% of women accessing family violence services experience financial abuse1
- Abuse tactics include controlling money, sabotaging employment, and coercing debt
- Financial recovery doesn’t follow a linear path and can look different over time
- Systems like Centrelink or the courts can cause further harm and control
- Teachable moments are most effective when they occur:
- While preparing to leave
- Shortly after separation
- During early recovery
- Women prefer one-on-one support, online resources, and peer-led workshops
When separating, 69% of women leave behind assets or property, highlighting why respectful and safe money conversations matter during and after separation2
What the research shows works
Support works best when people can access financial, legal, emotional and practical help in one place
- Information is most helpful when it is clear, trauma-informed, flexible and can be revisited over time
- Services including banks, health, legal and community organisations need to work together to provide better support
- Support needs to be intersectional and tailored to people’s different experiences, including culture, disability, gender identity and visa status
Download the full report here
Getting Support
Our trained support workers can talk through what’s happening and help you understand your options, at your own pace.
You can call WIRE on 1300 134 130, start a web chat, or book an appointment.
Emergency Support
| Emergency Services | Call 000 if you or someone is in immediate danger |
Legal Support
WIRE recognises that women and gender diverse people can face barriers to accessing legal support and can help connect you with trusted services that understand family violence.
| Nicholes Law | Website: https://nicholeslaw.com.au/ Phone: 03 9670 4122 |
| Victoria Legal Aid | Website: https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/ Phone: 1300 792 387 |
Family & Violence Support
| WIRE | Website: https://www.wire.org.au/ Phone: 1300 134 130 |
| The Orange Door (Family violence & child support) | Website: https://www.orangedoor.vic.gov.au/ |
| Family Relationship Advice Line (Help with relationships & separation) | Website: https://www.familyrelationships.gov.au/talk-someone/advice-line Phone: 1800 050 321 |
| 1800RESPECT (24/7 family violence counselling) | Website: https://1800respect.org.au/ Phone: 1800 737 732 |
| SafeSteps Family Violence Response Centre (Vic) | Website: https://safesteps.org.au/our-services/ Phone: 1800 015 188 |
| Raising Children Network (Parenting strategies, behaviour tips, and relationship resources) | Website: https://raisingchildren.net.au/ |
| The Line (Resources for young people and parents around respectful relationships and changing harmful behaviour) | Website: https://www.theline.org.au/ |
| Kids Helpline | Website: https://kidshelpline.com.au/ Phone: 1800 55 1800 |
| Victorian Sexual Assault Crisis Line | Phone: 1800 806 292 (after hours) / 03 8345 3494 (police/emergency) |
| CASA (Centre Against Sexual Assault) | Website: https://www.casahouse.com.au/contact-us Phone: 1800 806 292 |
| Victims of Crime Helpline (Vic) | Phone: 1800 819 817 |
Online Support
| eSafety Commissioner (Help with cyberstalking, image-based abuse, and online safety) | Website: esafety.gov.au |
| Wesnet (Provides free smartphone and tech safety training to women experiencing violence) | Website: https://wesnet.org.au/ Phone: 1800 937 638 |
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Support
| Yarning Safe’N’Strong Helpline (24/7 cultural wellbeing support) | Website: https://www.vahs.org.au/yarning-safenstrong/ Phone: 1800 959 563 (24/7) |
| 13YARN (Crisis support for mob) | Website: https://www.13yarn.org.au/ Phone: 13 92 76 (24/7) |
| Djirra (Support for Aboriginal women) | Website: https://djirra.org.au/ Phone: 1800 105 303 |
LGBTQIA+ Support
| QLife (LGBTQIA+ peer counselling) | Website: https://qlife.org.au/ Phone: 1800 184 527 |
Mental Health Support
| Australian Psychological Society (Find a registered psychologist) | Website: https://psychology.org.au/ Phone: 03 8662 3300 |
| Lifeline (24/7 crisis counselling) | Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Phone: 13 11 14 (24/7) |
| Beyond Blue (Support for anxiety & depression) | Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Phone: 1300 22 4636 |
| Better Place Australia (Counselling & family support) | Website: https://www.betterplaceaustralia.com.au/ Phone: 1800 639 523 |
Multicultural & Migration Support
| InTouch (Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence) | Website: https://intouch.org.au/ Phone: 1800 755 988 |
| My Blue Sky (Forced Marriage & Migration Exploitation) | Website: https://mybluesky.org.au/ Phone: 02 9514 8115 |
| Immigration Advice & Rights Centre | Website: https://iarc.org.au/ Phone: 02 8234 0700 |
| Australian Red Cross (Support for Trafficked People Program) | Website: https://www.redcross.org.au/migration/support-for-people-impacted-by-modern-slavery/ Phone: 03 9345 1800 |
| Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights | Website: https://amwchr.org.au/ Phone: 03 9481 3000 |
Financial Support
| Financial Independence Hub | Website: https://goodshep.org.au/services/fih/ Phone: 1300 050 150 |
| National Debt Helpline | Website: https://ndh.org.au/ Phone: 1800 007 007 |
| Centrelink Financial Information Service Officers | Website: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/financial-information-service-officers?context=21836 Phone: 132 300 |
Elder Support
| National Elder Abuse Helpline | Phone: 1800 353 374 |
References
1) WIRE. (2018). When’s the Right Time to Talk About Money? Financial teachable moments for women affected by family violence.
2) Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (2025). Economic and Financial Impacts of Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence. https://www.aihw.gov.au/family-domestic-and-sexual-violence/responses-and-outcomes/economic-financial-impacts