The end-of-year holidays are a period where many celebrate the year that’s been had with their loved ones, but unfortunately for others, it’s a time of fear.
Data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) saw Domestic Violence (DV) related assaults over Christmas Day and Boxing Day spike by 78 per cent.
The horrors continue into the new year as NYD reaches 118 per cent higher DV-related assaults than usual and 62 per cent on Australia Day. This data was collected over 13 years from 2010, telling the tale of a devastating fight for survival for many that has only escalated.
A victim of DV spoke to this as she described her terrifying experience that could have cost her life.
“When I was with Tom*, I thought that abuse was going to be my life. I thought he would never, ever let me leave,” Amy* said.
“And looking back, there were moments where I could have lost my life.”
It was a regular night and Amy had her friends over for a catch-up, by this time she had already experienced a range of abuse and obsessive behaviours from her husband.
Tom* was not home at the time but phoned drunk with a harrowing threat.
“‘You’re going to die tonight,” he said.
Amy’s friends had taken the kids upstairs and when her partner arrived home she begged him to go straight to bed, instead, he became violent.
“Our eldest daughter heard me screaming and ran downstairs in time to see him slam my head into the kitchen sink,” Amy shared.
“When he eventually stopped, I somehow managed to gather myself, and then the kids. My friend said I could stay at her Mum’s house and was on the phone with her arranging it all.
“Tom must have heard this, and he came back and kicked me while I was holding both our children. We all fell backwards. We grabbed whatever we could and left then and there.”
A Safe Haven
Unfortunately, Lane Cove is not outside of the statistics when it comes to stories like these. Over the past decade DV related assaults have increased by 7.6 per cent, according to data from BOCSAR.
In this year alone, the suburb has seen 79 DV-related incidents, 52 recorded victims of violence that were children and 34 incidents of Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) breaches.
These are just the recorded incidents, many crimes will often go unreported.
This is where support service Women and Children First (W&CF) can help. The statistics above are just a few among many other sexual assault and harassment incidents which have also happened this year.
W&CF provide a safe haven for women and children who have become any of these statistics and need a refuge. However, during this busy time, the charity organisation needs help from the community.
“Lane Cove has shown its heart this year, with businesses, organisations, and individuals donating gifts and essential items, especially for Christmas. These small but meaningful gestures bring joy and relief to women and children who’ve faced immense challenges,” Hannah Major, W&CF Communications & Advocacy Officer said.
“Unfortunately, domestic violence doesn’t take a holiday. In fact, incidents tend to increase over this period due to factors like heavy alcohol consumption, financial stress, and isolation. This is why your support now is more critical than ever—to ensure we can be there for families when they need us the most.”
Amy* was one of those women who reached out to W&CF when she decided it was time to leave her abusive husband Tom* for the sake of herself and her kids’ safety.
Over the next six months, her ex-partner would turn up unexpectedly at night and request to see the kids as Amy* pushed furniture to the doors to prevent him from entering the home.
One day Amy* allowed Tom* to stay at the house as a favour while the family was in Tasmania. When they got back he refused to leave, went on a bender that night and punched numerous holes in the wall.
At this point, Amy* felt as if she was constantly living in fear and went to seek refuge at a W&CF refuge with her children.
She had previously been assigned a caseworker who recommended filing an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO), but preferred not to get the police involved – but the escalated situation and what happened next made it essential.
“After we moved to the refuge, I was still terrified of aggravating the situation by getting an AVO against Tom. But after a few weeks, with W&CF staff by my side, I finally summoned the courage to go to the police station,” she said.
“That very same morning, Tom* tried to kidnap my daughter from her school.”
Thankfully two W&CF were able to rush to the school one of the daughters was at while another two rushed to the daycare where the other was. A fifth member of the team was on the phone to the police, urging them to push the AVO through immediately.
It worked. Tom* was arrested, and released with the AVO in order against him.”
“I still get chills when I think about that day. I can’t bear to think of what might have happened to my daughter if W&CF hadn’t been there,” Amy said.
“This organisation is so important. It’s a village of support because they provide so much more than just safe housing – we received ongoing trauma counselling, financial support, legal advice and so much more.”
How You Can Help People Like Amy These Holidays
Thanks to organisations such as Women & Children First, stories like Amy’s* turned out a lot better than they could have.
Lane Cove’s very own shelter, Delvena’s Women’s Refuge, is an organisation linked to W&CF and provides refuge for women and children escaping domestic violence.
As mentioned, Christmas and the rest of the Summer holidays can be a dangerous time for DV victims who are in desperate need of these refuges, but resources are finite during these fluctuating times, and donations from the community are needed.
“This year has been one of the busiest we’ve seen on the frontline. We’re facing a dual domestic violence and housing crisis, with demand for services like ours continuing to rise. Families in crisis need urgent, compassionate support—and Lane Cove has always stepped up to help us answer that call,” Hannah shared with ITC.
“Every dollar donated helps us keep families safe—whether by moving a family into emergency housing, providing counselling for children or helping a mother regain her independence. Your generosity allows us to not only support our current clients but also extend a lifeline to more families who urgently need it.”
Although gifts and goodies are much appreciated during Christmas, funding is much more crucial to keep up with the demand of shelters.
If you would like to donate to ensure women and children in danger have a safe place to stay then donate here, as everyone deserves to feel secure, especially during the holidays.
