OUR BACKYARD
WHEN Sandra was offered a chance to travel to Sydney for paid work and a view to permanent residency by the Australian family she working for in the Pacific Islands, she leapt at the chance. She would initially
be supported by the family she worked for, and
then she would have an income, she would have freedom, and a
chance to support her own family, she thought. But the reality was far more grim. The situation Sandra ended up in
is unthinkable
to most Australians, but the
reality for thousands.
Sandra became a
slave. “My passport was taken
when I arrived,” she said.
“I did all of their housework, washing,
ironing, gardening, took care of the dogs and the swimming pool. I worked
hard every day. “They would threaten me, swear at me, I was not allowed out of the house and could not contact my family. They
had control over my
whole life.” The situation went on for three years, and Sandra’s permanent residency wasn’t looking any
closer. She had become fearful for her
safety.
dra told her
story as part of a campaign by the Salvation Army to end
modern slavery — a
more pressing issue than most of us realise. The organisation supported Sandra
on her journey out of modern slavery, and aims to relieve the estimated 4300 Australians suffering
the same torture. On
