Women affected by domestic violence should have access to all the social support they require. Visa status shouldn’t get in the way of that.
The following story contains descriptions of domestic violence.
Anjali* had to make a terrifyingly quick decision in 2016 when her husband held a broken glass and threatened to kill her. She knew inviting law enforcement into their Sydney home might threaten his visa status — which her own visa was tied to — and in turn the stability of her two daughters’ lives. But after almost two decades of violence she wanted safety for her and her children.
“Within two minutes [the police] came and they witnessed everything and they protected me and they arrested him,” she said. “I am sure he would not spare me next time and if I were to see him now I would collapse from terror.”
Anjali did not know which visa she was on as her husband had controlled the paperwork, nor that it was about to expire. So she unknowingly entered a period of unlawfulness without a valid visa.
She is now on a bridging visa with no worker’s rights and her rent is only just covered by the money her teenage daughters earn at a fast-food restaurant after school.
“My poor girls are really supporting me,” she said.
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