Simon was not travelling well; he had suffered with depression and anxiety for more than a decade. Following the recent breakdown of his 16-year relationship, his mental health began to deteriorate. This downfall was exacerbated by being unable to afford psychiatric support.
Sebastian is a 49 year old man of Anglo background. He is gay and has been subjected to ongoing discrimination, including physical and verbal abuse, for most of his life.
The Rooming House Outreach Team visited him at the rooming house where he has lived for the past two years.
Cho 34 lived with her partner, their baby and her ten year old son from a previous relationship. Cho’s partner would often make horrible threats to her. In one instance, they were driving in the country and he said that if he drove the car off the cliff and jumped out at the last minute she would die and police would think it was
an accident.
Louise, 26, sought help and advice from PCLC when her former partner David 28, had applied for parenting orders, in relations to their son, Toby, aged 3. Prior to this application, David hadn’t seen his son for a year.
Alhaadi was an international student from Kenya studying in Australia. He was of low means and unable to afford a private lawyer. During his time here, he married Eidi and they had a child. The relationship broke down after a dispute arose back in Kenya about the dowry that Alhaddi’s family was expected to pay to his bride’s family.
A support worker from a family violence outreach service referred Jamila to our duty lawyer at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.
Jamila is from Bangladesh where she met and married her husband Assad. Shortly after, they came to Australia to live.
After experiencing significant childhood trauma, Jenny 38, had always suffered from depression and anxiety. The last five years had been particularly difficult for Jenny, she had lost a few close friends and family members to tragic deaths, separated from a long term partner and moved interstate. These life events had seen a significant deterioration in her mental health.
Jason is 26 years old and has a long history of drug and alcohol addiction. Whilst he struggled with his addictions he had been a carer for his disabled mother and was living with his parents. Jason’s relationship with his brother had always been volatile and one night when his brother came to visit an argument ensued. The disagreement became physical and police were called.
