News
3 December, 2025
Domestic violence growing at ‘alarming’ rate
Domestic violence is a problem that nobody wants to talk about.
Domestic violence is a problem that nobody wants to talk about.
But the number of local women seeking support is growing at an “alarming” rate according to Vicki Kelley from local community-based organisation Pop In and the community needs to say enough is enough.
Pop In is a hub for women and children impacted by domestic violence in the Wingecarribee Shire.
It organised Thursday’s ‘Light the Night’ vigil at the Briars Inn as part of the global 16 Days against Global Violence.
Attendees included Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman, Member for Wollondilly Judy Hannan, Wingecarribee Shire mayor Jesse Fitzpatrick and Wingecarribee Shire councillor David Kent.
Mrs Kelley said Pop In had supported 936 and children with “long-term case work” since opening in May 2021.
“Currently on a monthly basis we are averaging 115 women and children in case work and 21 participating in our children’s programs.
“And these numbers to continue to grow at an alarming rate,” Mrs Kelley said.
“These numbers represent members of our community who need our support and who need change.”
Thursday night’s function centred around 62 lanterns and flowerpots representing the 62 women and children who have lost their lives to domestic violence across Australia over the past 11 months.
Mrs Kelley called on local residents to join the fight against domestic violence.
She said the 62 lanterns were a sobering reminder of the mothers, sisters, daughters and friends – each of them “irreplaceable” – who had lost their lives to domestic violence already this year,
“Behind these numbers are women and children who lived in fear for many years, suffering deep levels of long-term trauma, before the final act that ended their lives.”
Mrs Kelley said the lanterns were a “call to action” and “an unflinching reminder that we cannot sit idly by while violence continues to claim the lives of women across communities”.
By working together, she said, local residents can help to create a future where women and children “can live a life free from domestic violence, free from fear, where they cannot just survive but thrive”.
“At Pop In we believe that we can create a community that is known to stand together and says ‘no’ to domestic violence,” she said.
Mrs Kelley said the responsibility for ending domestic violence didn’t sit with anyone in particular.
“To end domestic violence is not the sole responsibility of those working in the sector,” she said.
“It’s not a women’s issue or a men’s issue or an issue to be solved solely by government legislation.
“It needs all of us to say ‘no’ to domestic violence,” she said.
Jesse Fitzpatrick said he had no idea when he was elected mayor of Wingecarribee Shire that domestic violence was so prevalent in the local community.
He said he was “terrified” of the world that his daughters were potentially heading into.
Mrs Kelley said Pop In would be ramping up its advocacy work in 2026 with a community forum and the establishment of a men’s advisory group.
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