Centre for Non-Violence general manager of client services Yvette Jaczina said while the number of family-violence assaults had decreased, there continued to be a demand for support services.

“The only thing we can tell from the data is that the number of incidents being reported to police is decreasing,” she said.

“We can't gauge that there is a decrease in family violence experienced by members of the community, particularly women.

“What we do know is that there continues to be a demand for our services. That's not decreasing.”

Crime Statistics Agency data released this week show a drop in the number of reported family violence-related assaults for the Bendigo, Campaspe, Buloke and Central Goldfields areas.

Mount Alexander experienced a small increase in family-violence assaults with 34 reported in the year ending March, 2018. In 2017, 30 were reported.

Central Goldfields experienced a 20 per cent dropped in family-violence assaults, with 81 reported in 2018.

Campaspe saw a drop of 13 per cent, with 165 reported in the past 12 months.

Bendigo had 11 less offences, with 417 reported in the year ending March 2018. Buloke had 12 offences, two less than 2017.

Mount Alexander had an increase in breaches of family violence orders, with 251 breaches offences in the past year – up from 147 in 2017.

Campaspe saw 465 reported family-violence breaches compared to 255 at the same time in 2017 – a 45 per cent increase. 

“So what we take from that is that women are reporting breaches, hopefully with increased confidence,” Ms Jaczina said. “There is also more training around police as to what a breach is. We work closely with the police, who have a commitment in recognising a breach is a breach. If there is an order in place that involved no contact (with a victim), and someone makes contact – that's a breach.”

People experiencing family violence should contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.