‘False hope’: family violence program could be putting women at greater risk, critics say

The federal project offers women up to $5,000 to help escape violence, but workers say getting the money is too onerous and complex

Vulnerable women attempting to escape domestic violence are being offered false hope" by a government program that potentially could be putting them at greater risk, frontline service workers say.

The two-year $145m escaping violence payment trial was billed as a one-off payment of up to $5,000 to help women establish a life free of violence". It was announced as part of the government's landmark $1.1bn women's safety package" in the May budget.