CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes will bring together leading voices and frontline workers in domestic violence this Friday in Narromine to explore the realities of the issue across regional, rural and remote NSW.

The symposium, titled "Hidden No More: Shining the light on domestic violence in rural communities", will seek to drive lasting change. MC'd by high profile journalist Emma Alberici, the event is already at full capacity with more than 150 people set to attend, highlighting the collaborative and collegial commitment of regional frontline DFV service providers to drive meaningful, trauma-and-survivor-led change.

Keynote speakers at the event at Soul Food Depot on Friday, November 28, include Stephen Lawrence MLC; NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin; author, professor and investigative journalist Jess Hill; NSW Police Incident and Emergency Management Commander Superintendent Greg Moore; and Magistrate Aaron Tang from the Local Court of New South Wales, Dubbo.

Orana and Far West had the highest rate per 100,000 population of domestic violence-related assaults in NSW in the year to June 2025, the latest update from NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) shows.

Domestic violence-related assaults in this region have consistently occurred at more than three times the state rate per 100,000 population for at least the past two years, BOCSAR’s quarterly reports also show.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes operates across 52 per cent of NSW and is a lead domestic violence service provider in Forbes and Bourke, also managing the women’s refuges in both towns.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes CEO Anne-Marie Mioche said the extent of perpetration in regional and rural communities should not be ignored, noting that ways to address domestic and family violence in the bush differed considerably from metropolitan areas and required a specific approach.

“Levels of domestic violence continue to remain at unacceptable levels,” Ms Mioche said.

“Frontline workers are seeing firsthand what NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reporting shows.

"Towns in western NSW, such as Moree and Walgett, report domestic and family violence levels over five times the state average. Women in very remote areas experience assault-related hospitalisations at 43.1 times the rate of women in major cities, according to a 2022-23 report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare," she added.

“Women and children have a right to live in safety and without fear.

“Domestic violence causes deep and long-lasting emotional, social and financial effects on victim-survivors, their families and wider communities.”

Ms Mioche said the Hidden No More symposium would bring together community leaders, sector workers and advocates including Plus Communities, Bunmabunmarra, Maranguka, Western NSW Community Legal Centre and more, whose insights and experience were key to achieving effective and lasting change.“

Ms Mioche said the Hidden No More symposium will bring focus to the issue in regional and rural NSW, with a unified goal of improving the safety of women and children.

"Domestic violence is preventable," Ms Mioche concluded.