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Episode 4

Guests - Siuatonga Likiliki and Monie Reed

For the first time on Broken Fathers Podcast, we will be sitting down with a couple, a Broken Father Siuatonga Likiliki and his current partner Monie Reed. Liki is a father of four children.

** NOTE FOR LISTENERS: Unfortunately, Liki has sustained damage to his larynx from a past injury, which may sometimes make it difficult to hear him clearl **

Liki was a former international rugby league footballer, who had played in both the NRL and subsequently the Queensland Cup. After retiring from professional sport, his relationship with his ex-partner had broken down due to several serious issues. Liki commenced FIFO work in the resources sector, to support his children and his ex-partner financially.

Liki shares his experiences with coercive control, including how his children were used as pawns in this process, as well as domestic violence, parental alienation, spousal maintenance, and various other aspects of the legal proceedings. Liki and Monie also discuss their efforts to exhaust all avenues through the Hague Convention to retrieve his children, who were taken overseas without his consent. However, they faced ‘purposeful delay tactics’ from his ex-partner and significant backlogs in the judicial system, which ultimately resulted in his children being deemed ‘settled.’

This emotional and educational portrait depicts a father (raised harshly himself) who only ever wanted to give his children the best life possible, but was ultimately denied this basic privilege. It also offers valuable insight into the unique challenges and struggles faced by current partners, spouses, and their children, and the domino effect these challenges have as they support and fight these battles alongside their men. Any partner/spouse that is currently supporting a Broken Father through similar circumstances, will benefit greatly from this episode.