Emma's Story

Emma was still at school when she fell pregnant and became trapped in a controlling and violent relationship.

“I never really had a positive male influence in my life,” she explains. “So, I didn’t know any different, and I didn’t know it wasn’t healthy.”

As her partner’s abusive behaviour continued to worsen, Emma knew she had to leave to keep her two daughters safe.

“I knew if we didn’t get out, I would get killed. The girls and I escaped with nothing but a sack’s worth of our things.”

With no money and little family support, Emma and her girls found themselves bouncing from refuges and cheap motels to the backseats of cars. They even found themselves homeless for a while. With nowhere else to turn, Emma’s GP put her in contact with our two kind-hearted volunteer members named Tracy and Helen. It marked a turning point in Emma’s long and difficult journey towards independence.

Tracy and Helen’s support began with a box of food, a simple act of kindness Emma says, meant the world at the time.

“It blew my mind there were people out there willing to listen and help,” she says. “I’d never received kindness like that in my life.”

Since then, Tracy and Helen have been there to provide whatever support Emma has needed, whether that’s a cuppa and a chat when things get too much, or help replacing the things they lost in the devastating 2022 floods.

“At times they’ve been the difference between me eating a meal or not,” Emma says. “They’ve been the difference between me keeping a roof over my head, keeping the phone connected, and getting my kids to school.”

In the last year alone, 20% more Queenslanders like Emma have reached out to Vinnies for support. Thank you for making sure they always have someone they can turn to.