Reference no: EM133319016

Question: How has having no financial control affected Celina from below case study?

Case Study: Celina and David grew up in the same country of origin, however, at the time they met through an online dating website, David had been living in Australia for 7 years, and Celina was still living in her home country with her mother. Both Celina and David have been married previously, are professionally qualified and aged in their thirties. David has a primary-school age child who lives with his former wife and spends regular weekend and holiday time with David. After Celina and David married overseas, David promptly returned to Australia and Celina applied to Australian Immigration for a joint visa with David as the sponsor. When the visa was granted, Celina resigned from her professional employment and travelled to Australia to live with David.

Celina speaks fondly of her early days living with David. She described him as gentlemanly, respectful, loving and enthusiastic about showing her the sights of the exciting city she had moved to. Celina had experienced stigma in her own culture due to being a divorced woman and felt that her marriage to David restored her dreams for a good life and a family. She was committed to supporting David in caring for his child, and believes she made a genuine effort to build a relationship. When the child was staying with Celina and David, Celina would take care of the child's needs, prepare meals and do the housekeeping while David went to work. This was not a lifestyle Celina was accustomed to having been employed and independent for many years. Celina was unable to get employment while on a temporary visa and was therefore entirely financially dependent on David.

One evening, around a month after Celina arrived in Australia, David's behaviour towards her changed abruptly. It was the child's birthday and they had planned to collect the child from the mother's house and go out for dinner. Celina had prepared and wrapped presents. David refused to allow Celina to travel in the car on the basis that it would upset the child's mother. Instead, she was dropped somewhere close to a big junction on the way and was pushed out of the car by force. In the middle of an unfamiliar area, she walked down the street and stopped at a supermarket and decided to wait there as it was getting dark and she didn't know where else to go being still new to Australia. She was left for several hours until David eventually collected her. Celina found herself highly distressed, at night in unfamiliar surrounds, and confused and hurt by David's inconsiderate treatment. Not knowing what to do, she rang his parents and her own mother (all living overseas) seeking their advice and comfort. She pleaded with David's father to contact David and ask him to collect her. David's mother told her that David had a bad temper, but he couldn't afford to have another marriage fail. Celina's mother advised that she must try hard to make the marriage work. When David collected Celina later that evening, he shouted abuse at her, claiming that she was trouble and had ruined the child's birthday, and that he didn't want a woman who wouldn't obey him. Once home, David left Celina in the car crying for half an hour then returned and grabbed and shook her violently. Considerably smaller than David, Celina felt scared and weak and asked him to stop; he then dragged her out of the car and pushed her away. Celina fell and hit her head on the concrete driveway resulting in a painful bump to her head and wounded right foot. David dragged her into the house where she laid crying and shaking on the floor while he had a meal. Seemingly to revive her, David began slapping Celina repeatedly on both cheeks, and then tossed a bucket of water over her face. Some hours later, Celina managed to get to her feet and make her way to their bed. In the days following, David apologised to Celina, but remained angry about her contacting the parents and sharing details of their marriage, which he believed should remain private.

Over time, David demanded that Celina take on more and more of the household duties and child caring responsibilities. David began scolding and verbally abusing Celina in the presence of the child. Celina was not allowed a phone of her own; instead, David would give her his personal mobile while he was at work and he would use his office mobile to call her incessantly through the day, principally to tell her what he wanted done and to get details of the meals and snacks she was preparing for the child. When David returned home, he would check the activity and search history on his personal mobile and inspect the food in the fridge and cupboards. So demeaned by this suspicious conduct, Celina decided to document meals and activities through the day by taking digital photographs and loading them on David's Dropbox so he could inspect and verify them. David only ever gave Celina small amounts of cash to cover public transport costs to and from the child's school; otherwise, she had no access to any funds. He also accused her of secreting spare coins for her own use. They argued daily about David's demands and Celina's resistance to comply. David would often skype his parents and complain to them about Celina being a bad wife, aware that Celina was listening.

Not long after the incident on the child's birthday, David argued with Celina and, in full view of the child, tried to strangle her. Celina called the police but upon their arrival minimised what had occurred, not telling the police what had actually taken place.

Celina's mother decided to visit her daughter in Australia and travelled to Australia with David after he had been on a brief visit to their home country. They were to live together in the same house, and Celina's mother was to share the child's bedroom. David however insisted that the child sleep between him and Celina while the mother stayed in the other room. Celina tried to talk with David about alternative and more comfortable sleeping arrangements, but he wasn't amenable. One night, Celina was left with so little room in the bed that she fell out and injured herself. David handed her over to her mother and went back to sleep. Celina and her mother were forced to sleep together in a very small bed. Thereafter, they spent most nights on the couches in the living room. The marital relationship soured, and sexual relations ceased, yet Celina continued to make an effort to look after David's child and keep the household going despite suffering diarrhoea, headaches, muscle and back pain, and feelings of stress and depression.

Another evening (in the presence of Celina and her mother), David skyped his parents, again complaining about Celina. During the conversation, Celina tried to correct David's claims and explain her experience of his behaviour. David called her (in their first language) a prostitute and accused her of having sex with her mother because they slept together. He then wielded a coffee cup as if to throw it at her when Celina's mother physically intervened. Later, as he became increasingly intoxicated, he told them both to leave the house before he turned into an animal; he said he would refuse them food and drinks and get rid of them if they caused trouble. He threatened to separate them and send Celina's mother back to her home country. When David was asleep, Celina went to a neighbour as she was scared, the neighbour urged Celina to contact the police, however, Celine resisted. Upon returning to the home, David woke and destroyed the wedding photographs hung on the wall by smashing them in front of Celina. Celina and her mother were left totally helpless. At this point, Celina & her mother both went to the neighbour & the neighbour called the police.

The police initiated a protection order application on Celine's behalf and, at the first mention date, secured a temporary protection order. The police referred Celina to a family violence service provider so as her risk could be assessed & for further assistance such as legal & financial advice after having removed David from the home.