DOMESTIC violence is hitting home across the Central West, with Bathurst, Dubbo and Orange all ranked among the state’s worst 40 hot spots in the 2014 crime figures.
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Data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research ranked Orange 20th of all NSW local government areas (LGA) for domestic violence incidents, with 303 incidents last year.
Bathurst ranked 33rd with 236 reported incidents, while the figures were even worse in Dubbo, which ranked 13th in the state with 336.
But local support workers say those figures don’t even scratch the surface of domestic violence incidents across the region as many victims still choose to suffer in silence.
Anita Cox from the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service – which assists women and children experiencing domestic violence or who have experienced it in the past – said domestic violence could take many forms and was not limited to physical violence.
Ms Cox also said domestic violence was not restricted to lower socio-economic groups, and often perpetrators can appear charming, but in reality are controlling, manipulative and violent.
“Domestic violence is an abuse of power perpetrated mainly (but not only) by men against women, both in relationships and after separation,” she said.
“It occurs when one partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate and control the other.”
Ms Cox said examples of domestic violence could include physical violence, such as hitting, pushing, punching or hurting a person in any way; emotional or psychological abuse, such as name calling or behaviour which undermines someone; intimidation or threats; sexual assault; financial control; or isolating someone from family and friends and other support networks.
“It’s barely scratching the surface; these are only the ones who come to the notification of police. A lot more don’t even get reported,” she said.
Ms Cox said many women didn’t even realise they were in a violent relationship because they tried to minimise their partner’s behaviour not only to other people, but to themselves as well.
“They don’t want to believe it, they don’t want to talk about it,” she said.
“They think they can work it out themselves.”
Ms Cox said the message she wanted to get to victims was that there was help available.
She said the advocacy service could help women obtain apprehended violence orders, access counselling and other services.
