Frontline workers have seen a spike in reports of domestic and family violence across the Hunter Region since the introduction of COVID-19 restrictions requiring people to remain at home, with one support co-ordinator estimating there has been a rise of about 15 per cent since the beginning of March.
VOCAL's Victim Support Unit CEO Kerrie Thompson told the Newcastle Herald there was "a lot of anxiety, a lot of uncertainty around having to self-isolate and be at home" for many people who were reaching out for support.
Despite the rise, Ms Thompson believes domestic and family violence is being under-reported and that there will be a further increase when the coronavirus restrictions are lifted and people are no longer stuck at home with those who make them feel unsafe.
"I think the increase in calls that we're having is only going to get bigger," she said.
"I think the impact of domestic violence victims being confined to their homes when home is not a safe place - I think that we're going to see a lot of problems once the restrictions are lifted and people are more confident to get out and contact services - go to the GP and make police reports.
"I don't think we've seen the worst of it yet."
Ms Thompson said many of the calls being placed to VOCAL were from people concerned about their partner's increased alcohol consumption and the pressure that a job loss had placed on the household.
"So these women are pretty much sitting ducks," she said.
"They're holed up in this home that is violent and dangerous to them.
"It's a terrifying time for many of our clients, who are afraid to be in their home and feel they have nowhere to go. But they can get help, whether it be temporary accommodation, police assistance or counselling support. We encourage people to make contact when they feel it is safe to do so.
"It's more important than ever that friends and family keep contact with women they believe to be living in domestic violence. Our service is available to talk to family members or concerned neighbours about how they can help and support someone they are worried about."
Police have also noticed an increase in call-outs, according to the NSW Police Association.
"On the frontline I can say we're experiencing an increase in DV [domestic violence]," the union's Hunter representative Ian Allwood said.
"The way that we deal with DV in this day and age - our interventions are pretty swift and direct. There's very little discretion, in fact there's no discretion when it comes to domestic violence.
"I can say we have seen an increase in domestic violence for sure."
It comes after NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told reporters in Sydney on Friday that officers across the state had been responding to a higher than usual number of reports of domestic violence incidents "however reports of DV assaults are actually down".
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