Mater’s Red Bench Signals Safety For Domestic Violence Victims

Domestic violence campaigners say a freshly painted red bench outside the emergency department at Mater Hospital Brisbane could become a lifeline for victims of abuse.

The Red Bench initiative, created by the Red Rose Foundation, encourages people to ‘take a seat to take a stand’ against domestic and family violence (DFV).

Data shows the emergency department at Mater Hospital Brisbane recorded 160 presentations of domestic violence last year and 55 non-fatal strangulation cases.

The red benches at Mater Private Hospital Brisbane and Mater Hospital Brisbane will signal to victims of domestic violence that Mater clinicians provide a safe space for disclosure and are ready to help.

Queensland Police Service Acting Senior Sergeant Sharon Morgan works with victims of domestic violence on a daily basis as the High Risk Teams State Coordinator.

Last year Queensland Police received more than 140,000 calls involving DFV, with most frontline officers responding to at least one domestic violence related occurrence every shift.

In a previous relationship, Acting Snr Sergeant Morgan was herself a victim of physical abuse and coercive control, and said “domestic violence can happen to anyone”.

“What I have endured has helped me become a better police officer and have compassion and an understanding of what victims of abuse are going through,” Acting Snr Sergeant Morgan said.

“By working collaboratively with external partners like Mater, the Queensland Police Service aims to empower the community to recognise the signs of DFV and encourage to report it to police or access support services.”

Acting Snr Sergeant Morgan said: “I was impacted for many years but focused on being a good mum to my kids and now I am happily married with a new partner”.

“I had no confidence in myself, I was so demoralised and fearful of my life after years of abuse.

“I often sustained serious injuries as a result of the abuse, and probably should have been hospitalised but I never spoke about what I was going through for a long time.

“I covered my bruises with make up while continuously being abused as I trained to be a police officer.”

Acting Snr Sergeant Morgan worked alongside Mater Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Project Officer Rebecca Latham and said the presence of a red bench in a public location aimed to raise awareness and provide an opportunity for the issue to remain visible.

Ms Latham said Mater implemented training and upskilling of hospital staff to assist with recognising, supporting, and engaging appropriate onward referrals for victims of domestic violence.

She said through training, clinicians were equipped to offer support and referral information for Mater patients and colleagues experiencing domestic violence.

The “destructive tentacles” of DFV harm were evident throughout Mater emergency departments, maternity services, rehabilitation wards, paediatric clinics, mental health units and through care provided to the elderly, said Ms Latham.

“The burden of disease created by domestic and family violence in our communities and on our health services is truly immeasurable,” she said.

Ms Latham said DFV in pregnancy was associated with many pregnancy complications including pre-term birth, and also correlates with higher rates of postpartum depression.

“The perinatal period is a known high-risk time for women in terms of DFV. It’s when DFV can either begin or escalate,” Ms Latham said.

“The drivers of that are complex but controlling partners are challenged by all the changes that occur around this time that are outside of their influence, such as a women’s investment emotionally in their new baby.”

Red Rose Foundation chief executive officer Betty Taylor launched the Red Bench project in 2019 to build a permanent reminder that domestic violence occurs within all communities.

There are now more than 400 red benches in place across Australia, with eight to be unveiled at each Mater hospital across the State during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, which runs throughout May.

The project, Addressing Domestic Abuse, was funded by Mater Foundation with a focus to provide DFV education and training to Mater staff and patients and raise organisational awareness.

Mater hospitals in Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Redland, Springfield, and South Brisbane will all provide a red bench for Queenslanders ‘to take a seat to take a stand’.