Case studies
Domestic and family violence
Sally had limited English skills when she came to Australia with her husband and her husband had been very controlling. He filled out her Partner visa application for her and included false information about her previous relationships. Sally had tried to understand what was in the forms and had been scared that he was lying. But she did not have any control in the situation and her husband told her she was stupid when she tried to raise concerns. Sally was refused a Partner visa by the Department of Home… Read More
Sally had limited English skills when she came to Australia with her husband and her husband had been very controlling. He filled out her Partner visa application for her and… Read More
Working rights
In 2014, seven women were sponsored on subclass 457 visas from Thailand. When they arrived in Australia, they were subject to severe exploitation by their employer including being forced to sleep on the floor; being required to work over 12 hours a day, 6 days a week; restrictions on leaving the home and on what they could eat and drink; and significant underpayment while being forced to pay back certain “costs” to their employer from their already low wage. If they breached any of those rules, the employer threatened to… Read More
In 2014, seven women were sponsored on subclass 457 visas from Thailand. When they arrived in Australia, they were subject to severe exploitation by their employer including being forced to… Read More
Working rights
Sunil arrived in Australia on a Training visa. He came to Australia to follow his lifelong passion to be a chef and to learn about the culinary diversity of Australia. He started working at a hotel as part of his training and felt warm and welcomed by his colleagues. However, when he received his first pay cheque, he realised that substantial deductions were being taken from his pay which he never agreed to. The deductions were for accommodation in a tiny room in the Hotel with a shared bathroom; meals,… Read More
Sunil arrived in Australia on a Training visa. He came to Australia to follow his lifelong passion to be a chef and to learn about the culinary diversity of Australia. Read More
LGBTQ+ rights
Mustafa arrived in Australia in 2010 seeking protection from his home country. He had been subject to severe beatings, arbitrary arrests and death threats from the authorities for most of his life due to his sexuality. He spent the first seven years after arriving in Australia in immigration detention until he was finally released on a Temporary Protection visa. When released, he found life outside immigration detention very difficult. He did not have any family support in Australia and he found it difficult to gain employment, accommodation and find any… Read More
Mustafa arrived in Australia in 2010 seeking protection from his home country. He had been subject to severe beatings, arbitrary arrests and death threats from the authorities for most of… Read More
Family reunification
In 2012, Lance arrived in Australia as a skilled migrant from a country in West Africa. In 2015, he went back home to marry his fiancé, Sarah. Shortly after their wedding, Sarah’s brother and his wife were tragically killed in a natural disaster. In accordance with their custom, Sarah took on the responsibility of caring for her orphaned niece (12) and nephew (7). When he returned to Australia, Lance took on a second job to save the nearly $10,000 needed to sponsor Sarah and the children for visas to join… Read More
In 2012, Lance arrived in Australia as a skilled migrant from a country in West Africa. In 2015, he went back home to marry his fiancé, Sarah. Shortly after their… Read More
Domestic violence
Sana arrived in Australia as a dependent on her husband’s Student visa in 2017. Prior to coming to Australia, Sana had been subjected to forced marriage and physical and emotional abuse by her husband and his family. This abuse continued after she arrived in Australia and Sana was worried for her and her daughter’s safety. Although she was fearful that her visa would be cancelled and she would be sent back home, Sana felt that she couldn’t take any more and contacted the police who took out an ADVO for… Read More
Sana arrived in Australia as a dependent on her husband’s Student visa in 2017. Prior to coming to Australia, Sana had been subjected to forced marriage and physical and emotional… Read More
