Hi, my name is Lakeisha. I am a 38-year-old single mother of two beautiful daughters. I decided to start this fundraising page for my small family after I realised how difficult it is for victims of violence to fully escape and live harm free of perpetrators of Domestic and Family Violence after separating from them. My daughters, mother and extended family have been the victims of insidious attacks of Domestic & Family Violence over the past 9 years. Despite months of reporting, recording and accessing crisis support services. The justice system has been unable to put a stop to the endless harassment and abuse that we have experienced.

By accessing counselling and DV services I was able to educate myself. I learned that abuse is not confined to physical or emotional acts, it can be financial, coercive or controlling, economic, sexual or systems abuse.

Once the relationship was over, and I obtained a Domestic and Family Violence Protection Order, my ex-partner was no longer able to contact me, my children, mother or workplace. This helped keep us physically safe temporarily but after a few months he came up with new ways to still get to us when he could no longer speak to or approach us directly.

He started making death threats, first to my mother, then my brothers and even began tracking our movements. He visited my mums place of work and harassed my uncle at his work; he would drive past multiple times yelling racial abuse before throwing hot coffee at him. I have received phone calls and messages from him describing how he would enjoy killing us.

He has reported me to child safety, with no evidence - NO action was taken. He reported me to the Department of Transport, vehicle safety. I had two officers attend my property, inspect my vehicle and advise they would not be taking action. The council attended my property to investigate my yard after receiving a complaint that the pool was unfenced. They arrived to find a fenced pool and no action was taken against me.

My daughters and I try so hard to move on but no matter how many years we are separated we continue to live anxiously, and on guard always waiting for the next thing to happen. Earlier this year I was expecting a baby, I was under a lot of stress and living in fear, I sadly lost the baby at 22 weeks.

It feels like a constant struggle to move forward in life as I am often expecting the next attack. It's exhausting and it often feels like there is no escape even with a current Domestic and Family Violence Protection Order. He has contacted numerous family members and friends and keeps tabs on my movements by obtaining information from my neighbors.

The number of services I have needed to access, the counselling sessions, and endless healing. The emotional strength that is required to help my daughters rebuild their confidence, sense of self and the work it has taken to create a community of safety and strength around them to ensure they can thrive has not been an easy road. It's taken support from mothers, sisters, brothers, friends. Understanding from my employer and managers, compassion, empathy, trust and safety from our community.

If you are able to donate, the funds raised would go towards legal fees to help implement further safety measures, accessing further services that are not funded publicly and to further raise awareness about Systems Abuse and other forms of coercive control - through community awareness events and podcasts.

I hope by sharing my story I am able to challenge outdated status quo about gender violence, educate our youth on safe relationships and campaign community awareness to help other women, children and victims of Domestic and Family Violence and Systems Abuse.

If you have taken the time to read my story, I am so grateful. If you know someone that this may resonate with, please share with them.