Grit Diaries
Juliana Mantilla · 41 min
After leaving an abusive marriage with no money, no job, and two children, Colombian-born Juliana Mantilla rebuilt her life from scratch and became one of Australia's most committed domestic and family violence advocates for CALD women.
Juliana Mantilla had a thriving career in Colombia working on international cooperation projects for the government. She was independent, travelled the world, and had her own apartment. Then she met an Irish man living in Australia, fell in love quickly, and within four months of meeting him in February, she had moved to Brisbane by June. Friends quietly warned her the pace felt too fast, but the romantic rush drowned out those whispers. She arrived on a student visa, became pregnant almost immediately, and found herself increasingly isolated. Her husband controlled major decisions without consulting her, made fun of her English and accent, and undermined her confidence. When he quit drinking after their son was six months old, she saw hope and a reason to stay, even though the emotional abuse and control continued. She had a second child four years later, all while trapped in financial dependence, with no work history in Australia and no support network nearby.
Everything changed when her husband discovered she had secretly consulted a lawyer about her rights. He left in fury, emptying the bank accounts and taking the car, leaving her with a mortgage she could not pay and two young children. His parting words, a challenge about how long she would survive in Australia without him, became the turning point. Juliana took a job in retail despite her academic background. That work gave her back her confidence with English and her sense of capability. She rebuilt from nothing, went on to study business and gain qualifications in domestic violence advocacy, and now works to support other women from culturally diverse backgrounds facing similar situations. Her core message: nobody defines you but yourself, and whatever happened before does not define who you will become next.
⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses abuse & exploitation and domestic & family violence, which some listeners may find distressing.
If you need support, you're not alone. Help is available: • Blue Knot Foundation (complex trauma): 1300 657 380 · blueknot.org.au • 1800RESPECT (family, domestic & sexual violence): 1800 737 732 · 1800respect.org.au
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