This domestic violence survivor escaped. She had nowhere to go

Content warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of violence. Helplines are listed at the bottom of the story.

Mia’s partner beat her for two hours in an attack so vicious she lost some of her vision and sense of taste and smell. She is undergoing further testing to see if the damage is permanent. 

After leaving the relationship, support services were so stretched that she found herself homeless for weeks and without adequate crisis assistance. 

❓What happened: West Vic woman Mia - not her real name - was in a relationship with a man for two years. She told the Brolga she’d never experienced family violence before, that it wasn’t “even part of her world”.

🗣️: “I’m an educated person who has been previously very strong, outgoing, spoke her mind,” Mia told the Brolga. “He broke me down to nothing.” 

After love-bombing and coercive control techniques that forced Mia to cut off her friends and family, she was isolated and vulnerable. 

• “It felt safer to stay, because I thought he would follow me and kill me. All my phone calls, he made me answer on speaker. He made me cut off my parents.” 

Earlier this year, matters escalated to a point Mia feared for her life. 

🗣️: “He punched me so hard I could only crawl,” she said. “I was terrified if I tried to run out the front door, he’d chase me and he’d kill me.” 

The attack began in a rideshare vehicle, before continuing indoors and involving a knife, power cords and a towel rack. The neighbours had heard her screaming and called the police.  

• “I remember being on the floor with a knife to my throat and him saying, ‘I’m going to kill you’ and ‘I know where your ex-husband lives and I’m going to kill him so your kids have no parents’.”

Mia drifted in and out of consciousness in her bedroom, and the last thing she remembered was thinking she had to find whatever pills she could to end her own life. 

She was terrified to go to police and make a statement, for fear of repercussions that could impact her family. 

• “I was petrified of something happening to my kids. I was so overwhelmed and confused.” 

Mia says one of the police officers who interviewed her following the attack broke down in tears at the sight of her injuries. 

Cries unheard: In the aftermath, Mia says she encountered well-meaning police officers and support services, but they simply did not have the funding or staff to adequately protect her. 

Mia was forced to relocate for her safety, and says a promise of funds from a DV support service to help move and pay a bond was not fulfilled. 

She said she was “blessed” to have her family and friends to act as a support network, but was aware many women are not as fortunate. 

• “I have the backing of my family, and I'm older. I have years behind me knowing how I should be treated,” she said. “There are so many young women who don’t know and have no support. They don’t have a floor to stay on for four weeks.” 

A national crisis: Australia-wide, one in four women have experienced partner violence since the age of 15. In 2025, family and domestic violence accounted for two in five homicides in the country. 

In Ballarat, the most populous hub in West Vic, a report from charity and community group the Ballarat Foundation showed family violence in Ballarat had increased by 28.8% in 2025, against a state-wide increase of 8.86%

The aftermath: Following the attack, Mia said she has struggled with substance abuse for the first time in her life to cope with the trauma. 

She’s also undergone various surgeries to fix injuries and infection sustained during the attack. 

After reaching breaking point, she attempted self-harm and was subsequently hospitalised in a psychiatric ward for two weeks. 

Mia said it had taken months for her to get access to a support group for survivors. She said that although there were services helping people leave violent relationships, there were gaps in what was available in the immediate aftermath.

Mia says her ex-partner was charged with offences related to the attack and that the matter is still before the court.

If you are in an unsafe situation and experiencing family violence, help is available through 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). 

In Western Victoria, Meli, Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre, Emma House, Orange Door and Child and Family Services Ballarat are also available to provide resources and support.

If this story has raised mental health concerns, you can also contact Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) and Lifeline (13 11 14)