Mater Hospital’s red bench signals safety for domestic violence victims

A red bench outside a major Brisbane hospital has become a beacon of hope and signal of safety for domestic violence victims, who this week won greater protections under new state laws.

Acting senior sergeant Sharon Morgan on the red bench at Mater Hospital, South Brisbane. Picture: Richard Walker

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.

The bench was unveiled outside the busy hospital, days after the state government amended laws to minimising the need for victims of domestic violence to repeatedly have to retell their experience when their perpetrator’s custody arrangements change.

The amended Corrective Services legislation also provides more safeguards for the personal information and security of victims and allows restrictions on prisoners’ phone call privileges if the calls are used to breach domestic violence orders.

Acting senior sergeant Sharon Morgan and Rebecca Latham unveiled the Mater red bench as part of Domestic Violence Awareness month. Picture: Richard Walker

The updated laws also give new powers to the Parole Board to allow it to extend the maximum period of restricting applications for parole after a parole refusal.

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, who works with victims of domestic violence daily said last year 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 Sen-Sgt Morgan was a victim of physical abuse and coercive control.

She said “domestic violence can happen to anyone”.

“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,” she said.

“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.

“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,” she said.

The red bench was unveiled at Brisbane’s Mater Hospital as part of Domestic Violence Awareness month, in which the state government also amended laws to offer victims greater protection.

Acting Sen-Sgt Morgan works with Mater Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Project Officer Rebecca Latham and said the presence of a red bench in a public location would help 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 the “destructive tentacles” of DFV harm were evident throughout the Mater hospital.

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

“The peri-natal period is a known high-risk time for women in terms of DFV. It’s when DFV can either begin or escalate.

“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 woman’s investment emotionally in their new baby.”

Red Rose Foundation chief executive officer Betty Taylor launched the Red Bench project across the state 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 the country, with eight to be unveiled at each Mater hospital across Queensland in May, which is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.