Triple-zero education urged to help women escape abuse

A young woman, arriving in Australia for the first time, found herself trapped in an arranged marriage she knew nothing about. Her husband took control of her finances and life, and when the violence began, she was helpless, far from home and barely able to communicate. Her husband terrorized her by claiming each triple-zero call cost $5,000, preventing her from seeking help from authorities.

Eventually, a friend assisted her in leaving, but she believes understanding that triple-zero calls are free could have saved her from staying longer in an abusive situation.

In response to this and similar cases, Federal MP Claire Clutterham has advocated for public safety announcements to inform new arrivals about the free national emergency number, triple-zero. These announcements, similar to biosecurity warnings on airplanes, would explain that triple-zero offers translation services and could be displayed in the language of both the country of arrival and the country where the plane took off.

Clutterham shared this woman's story during an inquiry into the link between domestic, family, and sexual violence and suicide, emphasizing that the woman, who is one of her constituents, would have greatly benefited from such information.

The Adelaide-based MP noted that coming to a foreign country, where English is not one's first language, can leave individuals unaware of how little they know about their surroundings. Settlement Services Australia, which submitted to the inquiry, highlighted how migrant women are particularly vulnerable to feeling trapped in abusive environments due to language barriers and social isolation.

Gulrinda Abbasova, head of domestic, family, and sexual violence prevention and response at Settlement Services Australia, explained that perpetrators often threaten and intimidate victims, making it difficult for them to navigate the bureaucratic systems, especially when they don't speak English well or have little community support.

Recognizing the need for support, Clutterham stressed that women must know they can seek help without fear of deportation or financial repercussions. Other coercive control tactics, like financial and emotional manipulation, are also acknowledged as forms of family violence in Australia. Emergency services such as 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline (13 11 14), Men's Referral Service (1300 766 491), beyondblue (1300 22 4636), and the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service (1800 211 028) are all available to assist those in need.