For Tamara, the violence began almost immediately after she married her husband Aaron almost 10 years ago.
From the beginning Aaron isolated Tamara from her family and sabotaged her relationships with friends. As time passed, he became increasingly violent. “There was emotional, verbal, physical and sexual abuse,” says Claire Courtney, an Anglicare Victoria Family Violence practitioner who worked closely with Tamara. “Tamara’s husband was hitting and choking her, but since childhood she’d been told ‘if the marriage falls apart it’s your fault. You have to fix it.’”
Trying to live up to her perceived expectations of marriage, Tamara did her best to appease her husband, but his continuous attacks on her parenting and unpredictable outbursts of violence eroded her self-esteem and stole her confidence. “Tamara tried to leave her husband before when he’d threatened to kill her and her children, but she just couldn’t do it without support,” notes Claire.
Everything changed for Tamara when she left her violent husband.
With Claire by her side, she was able to get an intervention order preventing Aaron from having any contact with her or her children. Finally able to breathe easy, Tamara has begun the healing process.
“She is thriving,” says Claire. “She feels safe. She feels like a weight is lifted off her shoulders. And she feels very, very grateful for our support.”
“Now, I can be the mum I want to be to my children,” Tamara says simply.
This year, Anglicare Victoria expects a greater demand for our Family Violence support services than ever before. This year, families are under more pressure than ever, struggling to cope with the relentless rise in the cost of living, with no hope of relief in sight. We’re deeply grateful to you for your generous support.
Without your kind gifts we simply wouldn’t be able to provide immediate help and life-changing support so women, like Tamara, can break free from violence, heal and create better tomorrows for themselves and their children. If you can, please show your generosity once again today – you can be assured your donation will make an immediate and important impact
