This was published 7 years ago
Millionaire by 30, broke by 40: The little-known side of domestic violence
By Rachel Olding
Beth Mathison was a millionaire by 30 and broke by 40.
She lived in a castle in Scotland, sailed to Singapore and ran a yacht charter business in Malacca.
But, when the entrepreneur left her controlling husband after 20 years, she was suddenly broke, homeless and filled with shame.
"The thing about financial abuse ... is that it happens insidiously," she said. "It may start by allowing someone to take control away from you in small ways."
Entrepreneur Beth Mathison was so busy working seven days a week that she was unable to see the financial abuse in her marriage.Credit: Nick Moir
Ms Mathison, founder of consultancy company Centaur Business Networks, launched a domestic violence handbook on Tuesday for victims of financial abuse.
About 2500 copies of the guide, an initiative of the Commonwealth Bank and Domestic Violence NSW, will be distributed to frontline workers to help victims learn how to budget, protect their finances and achieve independence.
Almost one in five Australians have been financially abused by a partner, according to ABS data.
But it's something that is rarely spoken about, said DVNSW chief executive Moo Baulch.
Moo Baulch, chief executive of Domestic Violence NSW, said financial abuse is often more common in wealthy communities.Credit: Peter Rae
"It can be very subtle and ... really difficult to identify and it leaves no physical mark or trace," she said.
Simon Gittany prevented girlfriend Lisa Harnum from working. An abusive partner might make it difficult for their partner to get to work on time, put all the assets in their name or ban separate bank accounts. Often, victims literally can't afford to leave.
The guide for victims of financial abuse.
While physical abuse is often more prevalent in poorer communities, financial abuse is often more common in wealthy ones, she said.
Ms Mathison had a privileged upbringing of private schooling and scholarships. She learnt financial literacy from the age of 12, helping her mum write invoices.
She owned a British village store and worked seven days a week, eventually buying a country mansion and turning it into a hotel and animal sanctuary before buying a Scottish castle that she ran as a game park and historic house, again working seven days.
"The things that motivated me were my natural entrepreneurial spirit and a driving desire to take on new challenges. And it was these motivators that my husband used to great effect to control me," she said.
Her exhausting work cycle left her no time to reflect or take control. Her husband barely worked and secretly incurred debts in her name. He then persuaded her to take on a tourism business in Australia that later collapsed.
She was forced to sell everything to pay creditors, moving into a small home and working in a supermarket.
The tipping point was another visit from police for unpaid debts she didn't know about. She fled with a small bag of clothes; frightened, lost and humiliated.
"The question everyone always asks is, 'why don't they leave?' Kids need to go to school, you need a place to go to ... you need money to survive and it's embarrassing, quite frankly."
Ms Mathison worked her way back up, starting a consultancy business in Hobart and addressing her post-traumatic stress.
"I spent twice a week for 14 months in a psychiatrist's office to get over that abuse. It's really, really intense."
Domestic Violence minister Pru Goward said corporate-NGO partnerships, like the one behind the handbook, were an emerging area. She said it was a "big step" for a corporations to take on such a tough issue.
Big corporations are increasingly taking a lead on domestic violence with some offering paid family violence leave.
Matt Comyn, Commonwealth Bank's group executive of retail banking services, said the bank also trains its staff to deal with customers in violent relationships.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.