Key Points
- Sydney mother, known by the alias 'Maria,' endured a tumultuous four-year relationship with her abusive ex-partner.
- After it took toll on her health, Maria made the difficult decision to leave her partner, prioritising her and her children's safety.
- With the help of family, friends, and support services, Maria is now rebuilding her life as a single mum-of-three.
The mother from New South Wales admits that at first she didn't think she was being abused, she puts up with her ex-partner's mistreatment of her.
"At that time, I didn't think that I was in an abusive relationship. But it reached a point where the kids are already affected," alias Maria admits.
"It started when I stopped working as I was pregnant, then I gave birth to our son, and I have to ask for money from him for my two older kids. It became too much for him."
It took toll on the health of the mum-of-three, struggling with stress and anxiety.
She even questioned her self-worth and doubted her capability of providing for her children.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that in 2023 about 2.4 million Australian adults or 12 per cent of the population have been abused by their partner since the age 15. About 15 per cent of this number, 15 per cent are women, higher than the 7.8 per cent among men.
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