Domestic Violence is "the biggest social issue facing the region", although those on the front line don't believe the message is getting through as victims face a six month waiting list to access services.
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In the eight months from July 2018 to February 2019 Oxley Police responded to a total of 1353 domestic violence incidents, with 82 women and 13 men deemed to be "at serious threat".
DV also causes 60 per cent of homelessness figures in our region, and over the same time frame 77 men, 47 women and a staggering 107 families have been deemed homeless.
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In the first 13 weeks of this year 11 women were murdered as a result of DV, and Tamworth Family Support Service DV team leader Lynda Townsend said "proper perspective" and "community recognition" is the only way to drive real change.
"We have a massive problem - these are social issues - and we need the community to realise and have a voice so we can get more support, and at the very least reduce numbers," she said.
"I have been doing this for a long time and it never gets any easier seeing a woman in the Emergency Department looking like that."
Meanwhile the service is also in desperate need of further funding.
The backlog in cases is so large "Victims Services are currently responding to requests from October last year."
In Tamworth the average wait time to get approved to access counselling is six weeks, and then victims go onto approved counsellors wait lists.
While some local counselors have had to close their books, others have a six month waiting list.
"In that six months mental health significantly declines, the risk of homelessness increases, further isolation can occur and the risk of self medicating with drugs and alcohol is very common, and then leads to a host of other issues," Ms Townsend said.
"Everything becomes harder, and it becomes more expensive for the service and the state."
Ms Townsend was particularly incensed with last months budget, which saw the Morrison government commit to spending $78 million on Domestic Violence, some $378 million short of the estimated $455 million required.
In the same budget $190 million was committed to upgrading amenities at sports grounds to give women equal access to facilities.
"We applaud any equality, and the rise of female sport is great, but this beggars belief - it really does," Ms Townsend said.
"That is not good enough for DV - women are being murdered.
"Spending needs to be prioritised."
