About us and our story
My Blue Sky is run by Anti-Slavery Australia – a non-profit centre in the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology Sydney, led by Professor Jennifer Burn.
We have over 20 years of experience providing free legal and migration support to people experiencing forced marriage and other forms of modern slavery in Australia. We also focus on real-world research with high impact, and create leading educational and training programs.
My Blue Sky is Australia's national service for people who are in a forced marriage or worried about being forced to marry.
We can help people:
Find out about their rights and their options
Apply for a visa and talk to Immigration
Stay safe through safety plans and court orders
Take legal action – like getting a divorce
Find other support – like counselling, housing and financial help
Make reports to the police, if they want to.
We provide free and confidential information, support and legal advice to young people, community members and frontline professionals who are looking for help, whether for themselves or for someone they know.
Our legal and migration advice is provided by J.M. Burn Solicitor on behalf of Anti-Slavery Australia at the University of Technology Sydney.
My Blue Sky was first established through Australian Government seed funding. The current website has been developed through funding from the Department of Social Services (DSS) under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022.
What is the story behind the ‘My Blue Sky’ name and website?
The My Blue Sky website strives to be a safe and welcoming space online. Our name was chosen to send a message of hope and encourage people to look towards a brighter future. Forced marriage can feel lonely and scary, and we want to instead offer an uplifting and supportive place for people of all ages and backgrounds. Our website is especially designed with young people in mind.
Meet our legal team
My Blue Sky is run by Anti-Slavery Australia. Our legal team is made up of qualified lawyers who provide confidential and independent advice.
Our team is compassionate, respectful and always ready to support you. We are experienced in helping people from diverse cultures, who may have gone through difficult or distressing situations.
Sandeep Dhillon – Lawyer
Sandeep provides legal and migration support to people of all ages, genders and backgrounds who may be affected by forced marriage. She provides advice on a range of issues, including immigration, family law, compensation and safety.
Sandeep understands the challenges that people often face when accessing support. She is passionate about increasing awareness and access to justice, so that people are better able to get the support they need.
In her work, Sandeep makes sure each person is supported holistically and has the information they need to make the best decisions for themselves.
Isobel McGarity – Lawyer
Isobel provides immigration and other legal support to people experiencing forced marriage. She is passionate about empowering people who have been affected by violence, abuse and exploitation. Her work is focused on meeting each person’s unique needs and helping them access justice.
Previously, Isobel worked as a lawyer in human rights and with people seeking asylum. This included setting up and running a program to help women who were at risk of gender-based violence.
We are also lucky to be supported by a team of volunteer lawyers, migration agents and legal placement students.