Stacy is an elegant, softly spoken 33-year-old who is proud to be living her own life in Australia, after leaving an abusive situation overseas. She now devotes her time and energy to helping others make the break.
“You never know quite how bad that abuse is going to get for you. And it’s important to make that bold move before it could potentially be too late,” she tells SBS Small Business Secrets.
Stacy launched her new venture called Escabags last year, to help those fleeing. The bags are stocked with simple necessities like toothpaste, shampoo and books. All items are donated, and the bags are handmade by supporters.
“I also put a handwritten card into each bag so that the survivor knows that there's hope and they're not alone.”
Stacy (second from left) with volunteers Sue-Lei Hunt-Mingay (left) Marie Copp and Antonia Puntillo (right). Source: SBS Sandra Fulloon
Escabags is staffed by a team of hardworking volunteers, including Marie Copp from Campbelltown in Sydney’s south-west.
“When people leave a dangerous situation they don’t have to worry about the basics, they can get a bag and they can now it’s one less thing to worry about,” Marie says.
“Domestic violence is becoming more talked about which is good because it should not be something hushed or ashamed of,” says volunteer Sue-Lei Hunt-Mingay.
Providing essentials is one way to keep people safe at a most vulnerable time, Stacy adds.
“It saves someone going back into the home and potentially ending up in a much worse situation, which is where the statistics are an all-time high.
“Many people are murdered by their perpetrator, at the time they are due to leave.”
Stacy was on board a cruise ship docked in Sydney when her own situation reached breaking point.
The bags contain soft toys, basic items and books. Source: SBS Sandra Fulloon
“It was the last night of the trip. I said goodbye to an Australian family I had met on board and [later that night] I was violently attacked in the cabin.
“Members of staff put me into a different cabin. By that time, I couldn’t breathe, I literally fell through the doors of that room.”
The next morning, Stacy's life would change forever.
“There was a knock at my door and security were there with six very concerned faces. And it was the Australian family that I'd met on board. And they looked at me and said ‘this is the start of your new life, you’re coming home with us’.
“And I did feel terrified because that was the first time that I had ever gone against [the perpetrator] and taken a step for myself.”
Later, in a shelter Stacy began sewing bags. Her first effort took about five hours.
Stacy with her 'Aussie mum' Carolyn Simmonds. Source: Supplied
"I felt so calm [sewing] and in my own little bubble and free from all the anxiety of what had been going on. And it allowed me to relax and concentrate on something else."
These days volunteers sew and donate hundreds of bags. Stacy remains hands on, proudly wearing the Escabags white t-shirt, with its logo of a bird flying free from a metal cage.
“The bird is a victim becoming a survivor as it flies free from the cage, whether it's a mental cage, or a physical cage.
"It is your first step to freedom. It's the first decision that you're making for yourself when you grab one of those bags.”
In its first year, Escabags supplied more than 1,500 bags to domestic violence victims, via stockists across the country including police stations, health and community centres and libraries.
“It is a great idea and [as a volunteer] I feel I can do something to help, even if it’s only one person,” says Antonia Puntillo.
Marie Copp with one of the hand made bags. Source: SBS Sandra Fulloon
With almost 60 domestic violence related deaths in Australia last year, Stacy tells her story in the hope of encouraging others to make a change.
“I'm healing every day. Every time I hear a survivor’s story I think, ‘I've potentially been part of that’.
“Maybe I've saved a life or changed a life, and that's a really wonderful feeling,” Stacy says.
“And I hope that now that I've found happiness and I'm healthier in myself and I'm safe, that that gives other people in the situation I was once in, that hope too.”
