Domestic violence reports and emergency call outs have risen above 25% worldwide since the commencement of social distancing. A pressing issue during the COVID-19 pandemic around the world is an overstretched healthcare system resulting in some domestic violence shelters being converted for COVID-19 purposes.

Women in rural Australia are more likely to experience domestic violence than women in urban areas in Australia.  In rural areas women are silenced about the violence they experience believing it is an issue to be solved within the family unit. Women in rural Australia belong in a tight knit community and may find it challenging to come forward to the police if they know them personally and may have a fear about community gossip.

Women in rural communities are geographically isolated and accessing help can be challenging and expensive. Having more women’s refuges in rural areas will gave these women a safe place to go when they are victims of domestic violence.

We need to provide safe housing for women that are victims of domestic violence isolated in rural Australia

We need to empower rural women during the COVID-19 pandemic

This is a call for additional women’s refuges in rural Australia

PLEASE HELP RURAL AUSTRALIA BE A SAFE PLACE FOR WOMEN SUFFERING FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING THE COVID - 19 PANDEMIC