Domestic violence is rampant across Australia and the Western Plains region has the dubious distinction of ranking highly in the statistics with safe housing refuge not always available.

Communities are often left to find their own solutions and a project is currently underway in the Lachlan Shire to meet the needs of local victims seeking shelter.

In NSW over 40,000 persons aged 15 and over experienced at least one episode of physical violence by an intimate partner or family member within a 12 month period, which equates to approximately one in every 155 persons. The statistics show trends in the rate of domestic violence related assault recorded by NSW Police remain stable but these figures are still way too high.

Across Australia, people living in regional, rural and remote communities are 24 times more likely to be hospitalised as a result of family and domestic violence than people living in major cities.

"It’s not a title that any region wants to have, but the Far West and Orana Region is the worst in NSW for family and domestic violence," Hannah Robinson from Western NSW Community Legal Centre said.

"In recent years it has had the highest rate of domestic violence related assaults of any geographic region in NSW (over three times NSW's overall rate for). It also has the highest number of domestic violence incidents occasioning grievous bodily harm."

At the moment, Walgett shire sits at the top of the list in NSW for DV incidents per 100,000 head of population, with Coonamble in 3rd spot behind Moree, and Narromine at 9th (behind Broken Hill, Dubbo, Inverell, Wentworth and Kempsey).

Lachlan shire ranked 14th highest in the state for domestic violence assaults in 2022 in NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) data.

The figures show the LGA recorded 54 reported incidents in 2022, but its largest town, Condobolin, is 100 kilometres away from the nearest women’s shelter at Forbes.

Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green, CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes and the Condobolin Catholic parish have united to transform a church property for the new purpose. The project also received grant funding from the Australian government

The emergency accommodation project to support women and children leaving domestic violence is reaching major construction milestones at Condobolin.

Fortunately, renovations are on track for the church property to start its next chapter within the coming months.

Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green, parish priest Father Getulio Goncalves, and representatives from CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes and the Condobolin parish visited the property in March to view progress. Local builder John Adams was engaged to lead the capital works.

“Women and children experiencing domestic violence in Western NSW need and deserve access to safe emergency accommodation, which is what this new facility will deliver,” CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes chief executive officer Anne-Marie Mioche said. “From office space on site, our team members will provide wraparound support to the families staying in this safe place.”

Through the Condobolin project the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes seeks to welcome and care for the vulnerable and promote peace, the life and dignity of the human person.

“We are called to reach out to those in need, and share hope and light in the world,” Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green said.