But now as a survivor she is using her experience to give back and help those going through the same thing.

It all started before Ms Smith was born. Her parents were married after her mother fell pregnant, due to her mother’s family’s religious beliefs.

“Mum was made to feel ashamed [for falling pregnant],” Ms Smith said. “It was never a happy household.”

Ms Smith was raised being told she was ugly and stupid, which affected her relationships for several decades.

“I believed those things,” she said. “All of those beliefs were instilled in me, were beaten into me.

“Relationship after relationship I was mistreated.

“I always thought there was something wrong with me.”

Things reached a peak when Ms Smith met a man who swept her off her feet. They were married a bit over a year later and it didn’t take long for the controlling, violent behaviours to show.

But without the knowledge of what domestic violence was, and being so in love, Ms Smith was trapped in the relationship. It wasn’t until she went to Carrie’s Place that Ms Smith found out what was happening to her.

“The day I had my first meeting at Carrie’s Place, they asked me a few questions.

“I said he hasn’t actually punched me, but he has injured me. He bit me, but he said it was an accident.

“I said ‘what is this?’ She showed me the Wheel of Power and Control and she said ‘what you’re going through is domestic violence’.

At that point Ms Smith broke down.

“I didn’t realise everything that happened to me was abuse,” she said. “It’s a lot to come to terms with.

“I’m still learning to this day.”

But finding this out did not simply fix things for Ms Smith. She had to deal with her marriage break-down and try to rebuild her life after years and years of abuse.

“When I said ‘I do’ I actually meant it,” she said.

“It makes me incredibly sad. There are relationships that I never would have allowed myself to be involved in had I have known.”

Feeling so low, Ms Smith attempted to take her own life in November 2014.

“I felt so hopeless,” she said.

But with the help of Carrie’s Place, she has learned that she deserves happiness and wants to use her experience to help others find their own happiness.

“They helped save my life,” Ms Smith said. “Now I’m paying them back.”

Ms Smith is a governance committee member for Carrie’s Place and has helped organise fundraisers for the organisation for the past three years, but her fundraising efforts

She will launch the Carrie’s Place ‘All Sorts’ Fundraiser on Thursday.

All sorts has been chosen as the theme because “all sorts of people, from all sorts of backgrounds and all sorts of places experience domestic violence” but also because all sorts of people can, and want to help.

The fundraiser involves a series of events in October and November as well as a raffle to money for the refuge.

As well as raising much-needed funds, giving back is also part of the healing process for Ms Smith.

“I’m beginning to enjoy my life again,” Ms Smith said.

“I’m beginning to feel like I can contribute in a meaningful way.

“It makes my heart feel full when I see someone who is broken and when they walk away they’ve got a spark of hope.”

If you or someone you know needs to access support, contact:

· Lifeline: 13 11 14 

· Sexual assault helpline: 1800 737 732

· Mens Helpline: 1300 789 978

· Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 or Live chat online: HERE