A warning, this next story contains details of domestic abuse that some viewers may find distressing. Researchers behind an Australian-first study say fire should be better recognised as a weapon used by domestic violence perpetrators. The study found more than 150 domestic violence survivors presented to Australian hospital burns units over a 13-year period.
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00:00Roya Atma has stepped out of the shadows of her ex-husband's abuse, but the physical and
00:09emotional scars remain.
00:11It is something that when it's done to you, it stays with you for life.
00:16At 14 years old, she was married to an older man who controlled every aspect of her life.
00:22He made me believe as well that he was doing it to protect me, he was doing it to take
00:27care of me.
00:28It just became like, I guess I got conditioned into believing that that was just normal.
00:34But on one night in 1997, the Perth mother of four defended herself, which led to her husband
00:40setting her alight as she held their baby.
00:44She suffered burns to 35% of her body.
00:47He wanted to disfigure me for the rest of my life so nobody else would look at me or love
00:52me.
00:53Injuries like Ms Roy's have been the subject of an Australian first study into burn
00:57violence.
00:59Researchers found that of the 6,000 women admitted to Australian burn centres over 13 years,
01:05157 were suspected survivors of intentional attacks.
01:09And they say that's an underestimation because it isn't always disclosed.
01:13Fear of retaliation, fear of consequences to their family, to finances or to housing and their
01:21children, shame and also negative responses from clinicians.
01:27The research shows women with burns from suspected violence suffer more severe injuries, often to
01:32the face.
01:33And most of their perpetrators are current or former intimate partners.
01:37The reality is that fire is really convenient.
01:42Obviously, the access to things like lighters and accelerants like petrol, they're things that we
01:47find around the house.
01:48Researchers say more work is needed to raise awareness of burn violence.
01:52Health departments around the country have told the ABC their staff are trained to identify and
01:59respond to signs of domestic violence. Experts say it's crucial that fire is recognised more widely as
02:06a weapon of domestic violence.
02:08If we can build capacity amongst our burn teams, that we'll be able to better recognise and respond
02:15in culturally appropriate and trauma informed ways.
02:18Ms Atmer is now drawing on her past to educate others about domestic violence.
02:23No matter how ridiculous it sounds, believe them.
02:28In the hope of preventing further abuse.