Image: As Australia's cost of living and housing crises continue, calls to domestic violence helplines have soared. ‘Maya’ – not her real name - is a
“When we see increased stress in households, we do see an increased number of people presenting for domestic and family violence. “A shortage of accommodation means that people feel that they cannot leave the violence, or they may go into emergency accommodation and feel forced to return back to unsafe housing.Most women’s shelters are full, and demand for places is rising, Hunter says.
The two-storey suburban house can provide short-term accommodation for up to eight women, and is usually full. Women stay until they become financially independent and can pay for a home of their own.The kitchen of a women's shelter in Sydney.“When women arrive here they are usually quite traumatised after living in fear, often for a long time.”
O’Connor says survivors in Australia on temporary visas are especially vulnerable because their visa status can be used against them.“That means he has a lot of power and often, one of the tricks the perpetrators use is to remove sponsorship for the residency visa.”Mistreatment and silence: Partner visa applicants' deportation anxiety fuels hidden domestic violence