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‘He took all my wages’: how visa rules can expose migrant women to domestic violence
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‘He took all my wages’: how visa rules can expose migrant women to domestic violence

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This article contains references to domestic violence, assault and child abuse.
It wasn’t until 31-year-old Mali (not her real name) moved from southern Thailand to Australia to live with her partner that she realized “he wasn’t the person I hoped he would be”.
“He tried to control who I was talking to. I wasn’t allowed to have friends. After work I had to come straight home,” Mali told SBS Thai.
At the time, Mali was working in a factory near their home in a regional town in south-west Victoria, but had no access to her income.
“When my first paycheck came, he took it all,” she said. “I couldn’t use money for myself or send anything to my parents, even if it was my own income.”
Mali met John (not his real name) while on vacation in Thailand. He was her first long-term partner from abroad.

Together with her two children from a previous marriage, Mali arrived in Australia on a visitor visa in September 2017 and immediately moved in with John. They married in 2018.

From the beginning, Mali had hoped that they would have a stable and loving family life.
However, John’s controlling behavior began soon after they moved in together — behavior that extended to her son, she said.
Once, he forced Mali’s son to eat lettuce leaves that had been thrown in the garbage bin. The control and verbal abuse eventually escalated to physical violence, Mali said.
“He pushed me against the kitchen door. I fell in front of the children,” she said.

Unfortunately, Mali’s experience is not unique, and her story comes at a time when experts warn that gaps in Australia’s migration system could leave temporary visa holders vulnerable to such violence and with limited access to support.

‘Migration status is often weaponized’

Mali said her status as a migrant made her feel particularly vulnerable.
‘A man who is ours [visa] sponsor feels like he has all the power; he can do whatever he wants to control us. “We feel like we are always at his mercy,” she said.
For Mali, this threat was more than implicit; on several occasions. She said John warned her that her visa would be revoked if she did not obey him.
“He told me he had written to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) requesting that I and my children be removed from Australia,” she said.
Experts say such threats are common.

Professor Marie Segrave from the University of Melbourne, whose research specializes in the exploitation of illegal and temporary migrants, said perpetrators often use visa status as leverage.

“There are a whole range of ways in which the migration system enables and perpetuates violence against women, but also empowers its perpetrators,” says Professor Marie Segrave. Source: Delivered

“Our research shows that migration status is often weaponized,” Segrave told SBS Thai.

“Temporary visa holders who are not on the path to permanent residence face significant limitations in the support they can access, creating opportunities for perpetrators to deceive or threaten them.
“The fear can be very real, especially in situations involving children.”
Under Australian law, a sponsor cannot unilaterally revoke a partner’s visa, but this is something victims are often unaware of, she said.
Only the DHA has the authority to cancel a visa, but a sponsor can notify the department that a relationship has ended, triggering a review and possible cancellation by the department if no exceptions apply, giving the visa holder time to respond.
Migrants who have experienced domestic violence may be able to obtain a permanent Australian visa if they have applied for or hold an eligible visa, and the perpetrator was their former partner or spouse, among a number of others. provisions detailed on the DHA website.

Victims fall through holes in the system

Segrave said Australia’s migration system could unintentionally increase the risks for migrant women experiencing violence.
“There is no clear position that all women will receive support regardless of their visa status,” she said.
“The system is complex, and that complexity allows perpetrators to exercise control and misinform.”
While recent changes have expanded access to some family violence benefits and emergency payments for people fleeing family violence, Segrave says many women remain excluded from adequate protection, and further policy changes are needed.
“There is strong evidence that a special bridging visa for victims of domestic violence is possible, as we have seen with migrant workers who are being exploited,” she said.

“But that call has not yet been picked up.”

Control is an early warning sign

Specialist family violence and trauma consultant Su Chaitham said abuse often begins long before physical violence.
“Early signs include feeling unsafe, regularly being disrespected, or disconnected from friends, money or family,” she says.

She said many victims may not realize that a partner monitoring their movements, restricting access to money or preventing communication with others are forms of domestic violence.

A woman with long gray hair, wearing a long black coat and dress, stands smiling on wide white steps flanked by decorative white and gold dragon statues, with a large, misty, tree-covered mountain in the background under a cloudy sky.

Limited English fluency, a lack of personal networks and a poor understanding of Australian laws and systems are all “excellent controls” for abusers of migrant women, Su Chaitham said. Source: Delivered

“These actions violate a person’s basic human right to live independently,” Chaitham said.

She said immediate safety is the priority during crises.

“If you’re not safe, call triple-zero. If you can’t, leave the house and go to a public place – a neighbour’s house, a shop, a petrol station, anywhere there are people and CCTV,” she said.

A turning point

Mali said she decided to end the relationship after returning from surgery and being told to leave her family home while she was still recovering.
“I couldn’t walk properly. My stitches were still bleeding,” she said. “He gave me a piece of paper and told me to move immediately.”

She walked to a nearby lake and continued to cry until a neighbor approached. The neighbor’s family contacted the police and support services.

Authorities later helped Mali move and secure safe housing for herself and her child. She said the harassment by her former partner had continued for some time.
“He still came to the house mornings and evenings,” she said. ‘Sometimes he said we were still married. Other times he said the relationship was over.”

With the help of domestic violence services, Mali was eventually able to stabilize her visa situation and now has permanent residency.

A message for other migrant women

Mali hopes her story will encourage other women to seek help.

“I’m glad I didn’t give up,” she said. “Help is available, and we all deserve safety.”

A woman with long black hair, wearing a gray tank top and jeans, stands facing a railing overlooking the ocean while holding a coconut drink in her right hand.

Mali celebrated with a victory drink when, after a long and painful ordeal, she finally left John. Source: Delivered

Segrave said stories like Mali’s underscore the need for national policy reforms.

“As Australia strives to end violence within a generation, we must provide consistent protections for all women, regardless of visa status.”
This story was created in collaboration with SBS Thai.
If you or someone you know is affected by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In case of emergency you can call 000.

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