A woman once arrived at the emergency department with stab wounds from an intimate partner. When she left, she had to wear the same clothes she came in with. Before Dress Her with Dignity existed, this was the reality for domestic violence survivors presenting at hospitals. Now, thanks to Convoy of Hope, victim survivors receive brand new clothing –underwear, shoes, jumpers, everything – helping to restore dignity at their most vulnerable moment.
Dress Her with Dignity started in 2023 and operates in seven hospitals – five in the Northern Territory and two in Queensland. The program provides brand new clothing and hygiene products for women who have experienced domestic and family violence.
"One in four women suffer domestic family violence," explains Julia A’Bell, Convoy of Hope’s Mission and Project Director. "People hear about that and then they wonder what they can do … We’re meeting a need that would not have been met any other way."
Ruth Arnold, director of the Gold Coast-based initiative Love This City that partners with Convoy of Hope, says the program is "a way for people to make a tangible difference, whether that's the ability to shop or the ability to invest some time into packing and helping someone that they will probably never meet, but that they can love in a really practical way".
Sarah Richards, advanced social worker in sexual assault psychosocial response at Gold Coast University Hospital, reached out to emergency department social workers when she started her role. "What do we need?" she asked. The answer was immediate: "Clothes." The second-hand clothes they had been giving to the women were not meeting their needs.
Sexual assault survivors who pursue justice must surrender their clothes for forensic evidence. "It makes such a difference to them to receive fresh new clothes," Sarah says. "That they even have the tags on gives that sense of newness."
The program adapts to seasonal needs. Initially providing linen pants, skirts, and shorts for summer, it now includes jumpers and tracksuit pants for winter. Each pack contains everything brand new – underwear, bras, bottoms, tops, and shoes.
Seven groups of Convoy of Hope partners shop, pack, and deliver these items. "It gives me an opportunity to be a part of something that, even though I can't solve the problem, I can be a part of creating a lovely moment within someone who's really struggling," says Megs, a volunteer at Love This City.
The impact extends beyond material goods. "It provides a sense of hope, the sense of dignity, the sense of care," Julia says. "It says that, 'Beyond my circumstances right now, there are a lot of people that care about me.'"
Joel A’Bell, CEO of Convoy of Hope, explains that Dress Her with Dignity is part of the organisation’s broader women's empowerment programs operating globally in 4,500 centres. What began with children's feeding has expanded to empowering women, training in agriculture, and providing water. The philosophy: restore choice.
"One of the greatest ways to make a human suffer is to take choice away," Joel says. "If we can give you your choice back, you feel dignified."
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or distress, please call 1800 RESPECT, or Lifeline: 13 11 14.
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