Australia domestic violence exit costs rise 71% over ten years

Research by Anglicare Sydney finds the minimum financial outlay required for a victim‑survivor to leave an abusive home has increased by at least 71% since 2016, far outpacing the 37% rise in consumer‑price inflation. The report quantifies expenses such as rent, utilities, transport, legal fees, childcare and essential household goods, noting that many survivors lack savings or credit to cover these urgent costs.

A personal account underscores the broader impact: about 275,000 Australian women experience physical or sexual partner violence each year, and roughly 90,000 want to leave but feel unable to, with a quarter citing financial barriers. Household income for women who leave drops on average by 34%, from $54,648 to $35,921, and many become reliant on government benefits. Ongoing financial abuse often shifts to the child‑support system and costly legal battles, extending the economic hardship well beyond the moment of physical safety.