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Toowoomba Hospital is now the latest location in Queensland to have a Red Bench, which aims to raise awareness of domestic violence and provide an opportunity for community members to take a seat and to take a stand against the issue.
Unveiled by Toowoomba Hospital staff and the CEO of Red Rose Foundation, Betty Taylor, the Red Bench located outside the main entrance to the hospital will facilitate discussions about what family and domestic violence can look like and how the community can help those impacted by it.
Acting Toowoomba Hospital Executive Director Jeff Reeves said all too often people who attend the hospital have experienced a form of domestic and family violence and the Red Bench was just one initiative to help turn the tide.
“Sadly, we know that there are people in our hospital here in Toowoomba and across the Health Service who are impacted by domestic and family violence.
The Red Bench project will help our staff, visitors and patients have conversations that will potentially change and perhaps save lives for those people.”
Acting Toowoomba Hospital Executive Director Jeff Reeves
Speaking after the event, Darling Downs Health Chief Executive Annette Scott said she was proud of the work the Health Service is doing to protect community members who are subjected to family and domestic violence.
“Our staff undertake training to help identify all types of family and domestic violence. These issues aren’t always overt, so our staff are looking for other indicators like controlling behaviour or psychological abuse.
“So, when we identify these situations, our staff are able to take steps to reduce the persons’ exposure to the violent or controlling situations they are in and work towards a safe, long-term outcome.”
The Red Bench project is part of the not-for-profit group Red Rose Foundation, which aims to end domestic violence-related deaths in Australia. Toowoomba has several Red Benches across the city. A full list can be found on the Red Rose Foundation website.
The Toowoomba Hospital Foundation kindly sponsored the costs involved of painting the bench and installation of the plaque with the support of Darling Downs Health staff.
For more information about support services available to people exposed to domestic and family violence, visit: