In July 2025, Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW) convened its Regional Forum in Armidale, New England, bringing together 80 members, 60 in-person and 20 online, from across NSW’s regional, rural and remote communities. The forum provided a critical platform for specialist domestic and family violence (DFV) services to share lived realities, service pressures and community-driven solutions to end violence in regional and remote NSW.
Regional and remote areas of NSW experience significantly higher rates of DFV. The highest recorded regional DFV rate is in New England and North West NSW, at 705.2 per 100,000 – more than six times higher than the highest metropolitan region, North Sydney and Hornsby. Towns in western NSW like Moree, Walgett and Bourke report DFV levels over five times the state average (BOCSAR 2024). Impact Economics and Policy demonstrate prevalence of domestic violence-related incidents significantly increases with remoteness in NSW, with remote and very remote regions experiencing incidents at rates 7.45 times higher than major cities (DVNSW 2024).
These high rates of DFV stem from deeply rooted structural inequalities. A severe housing shortage forces many victim-survivors to remain with perpetrators, while limited transport options, digital isolation, and a lack of safe courtrooms make it even harder to seek help. Additionally, higher rates of gun ownership and a strong sense of privacy create further barriers, compelling women to stay in violent relationships (Woods 2023). Regional service providers are responding to unprecedented demand, often operating several times above their funded capacity. A recent survey of fourteen regional and remote member services found that DFV services operated at almost 300% of their funded capacity for 2024–25 (Domestic Violence NSW 2025).
A quote from a survey respondent servicing part of Central West, Western, Central North and Far West NSW, highlighting the impact of rising demand on services: “Referral rates are steadily increasing. Services are consistently exceeding their contracted KPIs; however, no additional funding is provided for this additional work. This means frontline staff carry the pressure of meeting community need without the resourcing to match. The situation is compounded by workforce shortages, high turnover risk, and the emotional toll of responding to complex trauma in regional and remote contexts”.
DVNSW members at the Regional Forum identified a number of systemic reforms that are essential to addressing these inequities. Services urgently require increased and equitable funding that recognises the higher cost and complexity of delivering support in regional and remote communities.
Members called for:
- Investment in place-based models that value local leadership, partnerships, and cultural knowledge
- A coordinated disaster management framework that embeds DFV responses.
- Urgent action to increase housing options
- Safer, more accessible justice infrastructure
The workforce was a key focus of the Regional Forum and remain the backbone of regional DFV service delivery. Members highlighted the need for:
- Affordable housing for the DFV workforce
- Improved attraction and retention strategies
- Sustainable remuneration
- Professional supervision
- Funded career pathways, particularly for Aboriginal, multicultural, and lived-experience workers.
The forum also reinforced the importance of resourcing community-led primary prevention and perpetrator intervention programs to reduce violence before it occurs and to shift responsibility to those who use violence.
DVNSW calls on the NSW Government to commit to a 50% increase in core funding for all specialist DFV services, with a supplementary payment for regional and remote services to recognise the additional costs and demand drivers related to service delivery in these locations. This must be coupled with investment in housing including operational support, workforce development, culturally safe practice, and primary prevention to ensure every person in NSW – no matter where they live – can access safety, justice, and support.