“That doesn’t surprise me,” Tamara Briggs said. As acting co-ordinator for the North West branch of the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service, Tamara handles the top three domestic violence areas in NSW. Last year, Inverell was ranked eighth in the state.

“But in saying that, I’ve noticed there’s a lot more reporting. The victims are actually reporting, which is a good thing. They’re actually ringing police and reporting, trying to help themselves and their kids”. Tamara said she thought there were many factors for Inverell’s high rank, but that drugs and alcohol were particularly damaging.

Trish Thomas from Pathfinders Women’s and Children’s Refuge was a little surprised by the statistic, but added that the need for the Pathfinders service is high and constant. 

“The demand for it certainly highlights the prevalence in our community,” she said. Trish pointed out that, whatever the numbers, the refuge is an important resource to have in our community because it provides safety and support to people in need.

“It’s a safe place to nurture and grow and have that sense of community around you. It’s a wonderful resource,” she said. 

“The reasons for violence are quite diverse,” Acting Inspector of the Inverell Police, Jay Tuckwell said. “Domestic violence is in no way exclusive to people of lower socio-economic backgrounds. It reaches into every corner of the community”. 

Inspector Tuckwell said that police are becoming more thorough in addressing risk indicators before violence occurs. Risk factors include unstable employment, drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues. The police also regard relationships that involve jealousy, withholding money and isolation from family and friends to be high risk, as well as a personal history of sexual violence or violence towards others.

“They help us create a bigger picture rather than what they’re telling us at the time,” Inspector Tuckwell said.

“These risk identifiers, I think, will see people becoming safer from domestic violence”.

“Police are becoming a lot more proactive with addressing victims of domestic violence as opposed to showing up after the damage is done”.