When Aaliyah* split up with her partner she suddenly had to contend with "Disney Dad". While she was struggling to manage daily living expenses as a single parent on a low income, he was using his greater wealth to buy off their children with treats.

"He would lavish them with gifts to make them want to go with him," she said. "I wasn't in a situation to take them to theme parks so [he would say] 'if you come with me, I'll go here'."

Fathers can use presents to "buy" their children's affection. Credit:Louie Douvis

An Australian Institute of Family Studies study into the effects of domestic violence on parenting found the "Disney Dad" phenomenon of men using money to buy their children's allegiances while denying the mother funds was a common feature of these separations.

"These were men who often had much greater financial resources and gave gifts, expensive activities or luxury items to children while not making a fair contribution to the children's day-to-day living expenses," the report stated.