Regional women are prime targets for DV offenders. So why is nobody talking about this?

At one point Kathryn Walford's face was "too mangled" that she did not want to walk down the street.

Regularly beaten, 15 years later she still lives with the pain.

It took all her determination and grit to escape. She had nowhere to go.

Now a frontline domestic violence worker in the western NSW city of Dubbo she said something needs to change, particularly for Aboriginal women like herself who experience DV at a frightening rate - nearly 11 times more likely to die due to assault than other women. AIHW 2023 data also shows they are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised because of family violence.

Regional NSW is littered with stories like Walford's.

One woman tells ACM she fled with just an air mattress and her two young daughters. It was either that, or death, she said grimly.

Others spoke about having nowhere to go and difficulty navigating the police and court systems. Not being believed.

One woman, who grew up in a household where domestic violence was prevalent, described it as a "learned behaviour" for men and women.

Speaking from a refuge herself, in the grip of homelessness, she tells ACM her baby brother, who used to cower in the corner in fear of her father, is now a perpetrator.

"Monkey see, monkey do," she said bleakly.

Regional and rural women experience domestic violence at greater levels than their city counterparts - but why are none of our leaders talking about it?

NSW Bureau of Crime stats and research reveal the 2023 domestic violence rate was 592.8 incidents per 100,000 in regional NSW compared to 360 incidents per 100,000 per people in Sydney.

The regional rate is an alarming 30 per cent above the NSW average while the Sydney rate in 20 per cent below the state average.

The top 47 local government areas (out of 120) for domestic violence are in regional NSW.

What are the most dangerous places in NSW for women? Western NSW and the Hunter.

Walgett, Broken Hill, Moree Plains, Coonamble, Lachlan, Muswellbrook, Dubbo, Narromine, Kempsey and Inverell make up the top ten worst local government areas for domestic violence.

Domestic violence statistics usually relate to male against female incidents but it is broader than just an intimate partner and can include female perpetrators, family members such as siblings and even carers.

Molly Ticehurst's death in Forbes in the Central West in April shocked a nation.

It prompted a wave of anger following revelations that her alleged murderer, Daniel Billings, had been released on bail just weeks ago after being accused of sexually assaulting her.

She was the 25^th women to die from domestic violence this year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled domestic violence a "national crisis" and announced further funding for women escaping violent relationships.

In NSW the Premier Chris Minns announced $230 million over four years and later drastic changes to the state's bail laws.

Through tears, her father Tony Ticehurst spoke words that broke a nation's heart: "Every parent would like to see their child change the world, but not at this cost."

Those on the front line say those measures are welcome, but more, significantly more, needs to be done. Particularly in our regions.

When asked in a May press conference about Dubbo Deputy Premier Prue Car acknowledged "specific funding" was needed but did not elaborate.

What's the most pressing issue in regional NSW when it comes to DV? Housing is the response ACM gets time and time again.

Chief executive of Women's Community Shelters Annabelle Daniel said women fleeing domestic violence are being housed in tents in regional NSW because of a lack of accommodation.

"The demand is extraordinary," she said. "In regional NSW we are seeing the housing crunch very much in action."

The popularity of short term rentals such as Airbnb has seen more rental properties taken off the market, exacerbating the problem. As has the pandemic as people flock to the coast.

"Prior to COVID we could support a woman looking for a rental property and she might be in competition with 20 people, now there are 200 people applying for the same property, not to mention also entrenched discrimination against Aboriginal women in a lot of those local areas, so we have to advocate even harder for those women," she said.

"It is very dispiriting," she said. "We can't ignore that you do get a different service in the regions.

"One of the challenges also is the distance between services. It is one thing to say crisis support in the next town, but it is the other thing to afford petrol."

In Western NSW the waitlist to enter a refuge is up to six months.

CEO of Orana Support Tina Reynolds is based in Dubbo, where they have 52 women and 55 children on their waitlist.

"Our wait list consists of women and children from small regional towns such as Gilgandra, Wellington and Coonamble that have absolutely nowhere to go that is safe," she said, adding that those in refuge were also staying an average six months longer.

"We need more DV support staff. Frontline workers so we can start working with women and children that are in temporary accommodation as there are no rooms available in our refuge."

A spokesperson for the Samaritans Kempsey Women's Refuge told ACM they were also "at capacity".

"Samaritans believes there is an immediate need for more safe and appropriate housing options for women affected by domestic violence," the spokesperson said. "Without safe housing options, women and children are often forced back into unsafe situations, because they believe they do not have other options."

In the Newcastle region, emergency housing has become so stretched that one service provider has been allowing women to sleep in a secure car park three nights a week. The service, which ACM has chosen not to name to protect the privacy of those using it, is running a pilot program which sees women given access to food, showers and laundry in a car park staffed by security guards.

When does a situation become a crisis?

Walgett in western NSW has epidemic levels of DV, a rate eight times the state average, with 3625.8 incidents per 100,000 people.

According to local police, most police time is taken up with domestic violence.

Senior Policy Officer at Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW) Bridget Mottram said areas like Walgett aren't the focus they need to be.

"While there are many initiatives, programs, and funding announcements across the country, they can often be metropolitan-focused, with there being a significant lack of those programs and funding initiatives reaching our most remote communities," Dr Mottram said.

Walgett's first female mayor Jane Keir said Walgett has simply been "left behind".

"We got left behind 30 years ago," she said.

A toxic mix of high alcohol and drug abuse, lack of education, poor health outcomes, high crime rates and incarceration and a lack of housing and employment opportunities.

"All of this is intertwined with domestic violence," she said.

"There is no quick fix for Walgett, we have generations of neglect and abuse within our community."

She urged all levels of governments to "stop procrastinating and do something about it, spend the dollars and put professionals and programs in place to change the mindset and protect our vulnerable community members".

ACM is calling for regionally-specific solutions to domestic violence. And targeted funding for the regions.

Domestic violence is at crisis levels in the regions and more needs to be done.

Without targeted funding for the regions, when it comes ot domestic violence, the gap between the city and bush will continue to widen.

Ms Mottram said as well as housing frontline workers need "immediate investment".

"There are additional costs associated with delivering services in regional and rural areas - these include costs associated with travel, professional development, outreach, and recruitment - all of which needs to be considered in funding models."