Challenge

Redfern Legal Centre (RLC) sought to design a statewide Financial Abuse Service that integrated legal and non-legal support. The challenge was to create a client-centred model that empowered survivors, addressed systemic gaps, and could be replicated across jurisdictions.

Approach

CIS conducted a comprehensive desk review and facilitated consultations with RLC staff, community organisations, sector experts, researchers, and people with lived experience. Together, we identified service needs and gaps, and co-designed a holistic model integrating legal and non-legal support.

Outcome

The model was published in Addressing financial abuse: a collaborative service model for legal and non-legal support, supported by the Commonwealth Bank. In 2023, the NSW Government and others committed funding to expand the service statewide. RLC is now implementing the expanded model with CIS’s continued support, while sharing learnings nationally and contributing to parliamentary inquiries.