The draft submission acknowledges the prevalence and impact of family violence at an individual and community level; that it is a complex issue which occurs across all community sectors; and is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men against women.

It also acknowledges the unequal distribution of power and resources between men and women and the adherence to rigidly defined gender roles as underlying determinants of violence against women in general and family violence in particular.

The submission also notes Bendigo's "growing reputation within the local government sector as a leader in family violence primary prevention and early intervention".

Mayor Peter Cox said it was important that the council took a stand on the issue.

"We've presented over a period of five years a number of papers and initiatives which raise this issue," he said.

"We've made inclusions in our enterprise agreement, we've had a violence prevention plan and we're trying to build respect about gender equality in Bendigo."

Cr Cox said council had been involved in a range of initiatives aimed at combating the issue.

"One of the major ones that's made a big impact on me is the broad community engagement and leadership in the White Ribbon Day activities and I think we had some thousands of people involved in that in November last year," he said.

"It's just staggering to see that a woman is dying almost every week as a result of family violence in Australia."

If the draft submission is approved it will be lodged with the commission by the end of the week.