FOR Ipswich mother Simone, the question has never really gone away.
“When is enough actually enough?” she asks.
“Protection orders expire. Fear does not.”
Now 39 and raising two teenage sons on her own, Simone has spent years trying to escape what she describes as a relentless cycle of abuse, coercive control and fear that never truly disappears.
Speaking publicly for the first time, Simone said she wanted the community to understand that domestic and family violence (DFV) does not always leave visible bruises, and it does not necessarily end when a relationship does.
“I want people to understand that domestic violence does not always end when the relationship ends,” she said.
“Sometimes it follows you for years. Sometimes decades.”
Her story is one shaped by intergenerational trauma, instability and survival.
Simone said she experienced abuse from an early age, before then entering an abusive relationship as a teenager.
By the time she reached adulthood, she was battling addiction, homelessness and severe health issues, while at the same time trying to find stability.
At 19, she met the father of her children – throughout the relationship, and long after separation, Simone says she experienced physical assaults, stalking, threats involving weapons, financial abuse and ongoing harassment, often in front of her children.
While protection orders are designed to safeguard victim-survivors, Simone said the legal process itself could leave lasting scars.
Despite obtaining a protection order in 2021, she said the experience of navigating the court system was retraumatising.
“Survivors are forced to relive trauma every few years just to prove they are still in danger,” she said. “To explain the abuse again. To gather evidence again. To face the same person again.”
Queensland domestic violence orders are generally issued for a fixed period set by the court, although extensions can be sought.
For Simone, the thought of repeatedly returning to court remains emotionally exhausting.
“This isn’t living,” she said. “This is surviving.”
For Simone, one of the hardest parts has been trying to break the cycle for the next generation.
“Breaking generational trauma is hard,” she said. “Surviving systems that exhaust victims is harder.”
She insists she is not seeking pity, but rather understanding.
“I do not want sympathy,” she said. “I want awareness. And I know I am not the only one.”
Simone’s story is far from isolated.
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month is shining a spotlight on a crisis affecting thousands of Queenslanders, and in Ipswich the numbers remain deeply confronting.
Figures from the 2024-25 Annual Report of the Magistrates Courts of Queensland reveal Ipswich continues to rank among the State’s worst regions for domestic and family violence matters, with 1384 originating applications lodged through Ipswich Magistrates Court over the past year.
According to the court data, Ipswich processed 1165 protection orders during the reporting period, alongside 900 temporary protection orders.
Another 232 applications were withdrawn or dismissed.
Behind every statistic is a story like Simone’s.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or family violence, support is available through 1800RESPECT or by calling 1800 737 732.
Simone’s name has been changed to protect her identity.
