Hope’s* journey to safety was one marked by unimaginable hardships, resilience, and a moment of profound relief.
She was born in a country where being gender-diverse was not just a challenge, but a crime—where the very essence of who she was could lead to persecution, violence, and, for many, a life of constant fear. For years, Hope* had lived in the shadows, always terrified that her identity would be exposed, that someone might discover her true self. The weight of that fear was heavy, but it would soon grow unbearable.
In 2017, Hope* met someone who seemed like a safe harbour—someone who promised love, understanding, and a chance for a new life. They promised her escape from the dangers of her home country, a chance to live freely, to build a life together. But the promise quickly dissolved into a nightmare.
This intimate partner trafficked Hope to Australia, under the guise of a relationship that would grant her protection, security, and, ultimately, a visa. But her documents were taken from her, and the assurances of a partner visa—of safety and permanence—were false. Hope did not know it then, but she was trapped in Australia without legal status, vulnerable and isolated. Her life turned into a web of sexual slavery, domestic violence, financial abuse, and coercive control. She was subjected to extreme emotional and physical abuse, with no way out.
The years dragged on, and the relationship became more suffocating. Hope lived in constant fear—fear of being discovered, fear of deportation, fear of the police, whom she believed would only take her back to a place where she would face even worse persecution. The more trapped she became, the more isolated she felt. She had no legal documents, no rights, and no support.
But in June 2023, when Hope* could no longer bear the weight of her isolation and suffering, she reached out for help. She was connected to the Women's And Girls Emergency Centre (WAGEC), where everything began to change.
At first, she was reluctant to open up. The trauma she had endured over the years left her with deep scars, and she feared that even seeking help might lead to her deportation. But WAGEC listened. They believed her. They understood the complexity of her situation and the desperation behind her fears. They offered her a safe space, a room in crisis accommodation, food vouchers, transport, and advocacy to connect her to emergency relief funds.
More importantly, WAGEC stood by her through every step of the journey toward safety. They helped her navigate the complicated legal system, offering her advocacy support to secure medical care and connecting her to services that could provide the help she needed. Most importantly, they helped her begin the process of securing legal identification—something so basic, yet so critical in her case.
In time, WAGEC was able to connect Hope* with a range of services that helped her rebuild her life. There were moments of deep exhaustion, but also moments of hope, as she started to regain her sense of self and possibility. With WAGEC’s support, she was able to apply for a Specialised and Refugee Settlement Services (SRSS) payment and start the long process of rebuilding her life from the ground up. She was given the space to heal, to regain some dignity, and, most importantly, to find hope in a world that had seemed to offer none.
Then, on a day in November 2024, the unimaginable happened. Hope* received two pieces of news that would change her life forever: she was granted a protection visa, and in a twist of fate, her SRSS payment was approved on the same day.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Hope* cried tears of gratitude, whispering, “I cannot express how grateful I am to you. You are my family. You are my sisters. I cannot thank you enough. I never thought this would be possible.”
For the first time in years, Hope* could breathe. The constant fear that had haunted her every waking moment—the fear of deportation, of living without healthcare, of being invisible in a world that had rejected her—was lifted. She could finally start to plan a future for herself, to build a life without looking over her shoulder, without the dread of being sent back to the dangers she had fled.
Her heart swelled with excitement as she imagined a future where she could seek the medical care she had long denied herself, where she could sleep peacefully without the constant fear of the unknown. She was no longer a prisoner to her past or to a cruel system that had kept her in chains.
And perhaps most profoundly, for the first time in years, Hope* was able to sleep properly. The weight of anxiety and fear, which had kept her awake for so long, was gone. In its place was a quiet sense of peace, a fragile but powerful hope for the future.
Hope’s journey was far from over. There would still be struggles ahead, but now, for the first time in her life, she had a chance to live her truth.
Your donation to WAGEC helps women and children in crisis find safety, rebuild their confidence, and break the cycle of violence. Donate today and help women like Holly take the next step in their journey.
