Tobias, an Aboriginal man in his 60s, was referred by the Elder Abuse Helpline after enduring years of violence and financial abuse from his son Dustin and Dustin’s partner. With disabilities limiting his independence, Tobias relied on his son for support but discovered that Dustin was stealing from his bank account. Despite approaching both his family and the bank, he was left with virtually no money.

Tobias received integrated support from a Caxton lawyer, our First Nations social worker and a financial counsellor from UnitingCare. Together they helped Tobias navigate the difficult cultural and personal decision to report Dustin to police. A protection order was secured and a fraud investigation commenced. Our team also held the bank to account, arguing they had failed in their duty.

The bank reimbursed Tobias more than $200,000. With a new financial safety plan and support from our social worker, Tobias can now cover essentials, plan for a holiday and protect himself against future exploitation.