Police responded to an average of eight domestic violence-related assaults across the Hunter every day during that period.

NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR) data shows there were 2997 domestic violence related assaults across the 11 Hunter local government areas in the year up to June 30 this year, equivalent to an average of 8.2 every day. This is up from 2167 in the year to June 30, 2001, when there was an average of 5.9 assaults every day.

In NSW, there were 28,939 assaults in the past financial year, or 79.3 a day, up from 21,546 in the year to June 2001, when there was an average of 59 a day.

Lake Macquarie had the highest number of incidents reported in the area in the past financial year, with 730, compared with 544 in the year in the year to June 2001, the equivalent of a 34 per cent increase.

Manager of Hunter Domestic Violence Support and Advisory Services Paula Mudd said the alarming figures were just the tip of the iceberg.

"It's a blight," Ms Mudd said.

"A lot of women don't report domestic violence and I think the figure would frighten people if everybody knew the real numbers."

Ms Mudd welcomed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's $100-million package to help stop violence against women but said funding must reach those working at the grassroots level.

She called for a forum for domestic violence workers - not open to politicians and academics - to advise the government on what was needed in the sector and also for authorities to require those served with apprehended violence orders to attend a course about domestic violence.

Ms Mudd also suggested Housing NSW offer transitional houses, where women leaving refuges could build up a rental history.

■ The Lakes Mail, as part of Australian Community Media (a division of Fairfax Media) last week launched the End the Cycle campaign, which aims to bring about social and attitudinal change to end violence against women and children.