Domestic Violence Paterson: Why I’m Running for Election
My Journey From Survivor to Candidate
As a resident of Paterson NSW, I’ve walked a path that too many in our community continue to face. Despite my professional background as an Entrepreneur, Business Advisor, then Executive in the tech industry,, my skills in strategic planning and financial management couldn’t protect me from a system that fundamentally fails those it’s meant to safeguard.
I had worked extremely hard to elevate myself out of poverty as a homeless 14-year-old to become an educated, professional, responsible person. Yet when domestic violence entered my life, I discovered that even my privileged position of education, knowledge of systems and financial stability couldn’t shield me from what followed.
During the past two years, I have been down and out, awake for days in terror, left completely without legal or physical protection, and on the brink of financial ruin. This loss was intolerable to me. Everything I had worked for was taken away without any fault or power on my part to prevent it.
While navigating this personal crisis, I watched our country slip further into a national emergency – one where women and children are dying at the hands of men with increasing frequency. And nowhere is this crisis more acute than right here in Paterson.
The Alarming Paterson NSW Domestic Violence Rates Compared to State and National Averages
The statistics for Paterson NSW domestic violence rates are deeply troubling. Our electorate ranks in the bottom 11% for domestic violence related assault compared to the Hunter Valley region. This isn’t just a number—it represents real people, predominantly women and children, living in fear in their own homes.
The regional-metropolitan divide is stark. According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, in 2023 the domestic violence assault rate was 592.8 incidents per 100,000 people in regional NSW compared to just 360 incidents per 100,000 people in Sydney. The regional rate is 30% above the NSW average while the Sydney rate is 20% below the state average.
Paterson’s situation is even worse than these regional averages suggest. While across NSW approximately 2,500 reports of domestic violence are made to police every month, experts believe this represents only 40% of actual incidents due to underreporting. In our community, these numbers are even higher than the state average.
The domestic violence assault rates NSW government data reveals show that the top 48 local government areas for domestic violence assaults were all in regional NSW in 2023. This isn’t coincidental – it reflects systemic issues that have been ignored for too long.
Domestic Violence Statistics NSW: How Paterson Compares
When examining domestic violence statistics NSW-wide, the picture becomes even clearer. The state average for domestic violence related assaults is approximately 450 incidents per 100,000 people. Paterson significantly exceeds this average, placing our community in crisis.
Family violence statistics Paterson residents face are particularly concerning when we look at specific areas within our electorate. For example, Raymond Terrace has a child poverty rate of 19.7%, compared to the NSW average of 15.1%. This economic disadvantage correlates strongly with higher rates of domestic violence.
Housing insecurity, a major factor in domestic violence situations, is also more severe in our electorate. According to the Salvation Army’s Social Justice Stocktake, 70.4% of people in Paterson identified housing affordability and homelessness as issues in their community – higher than their 2022 finding of 58.4%. Without safe housing options, many victims remain trapped in dangerous situations.
The NSW domestic violence trends show that while metropolitan areas have seen some improvement in recent years, regional areas like Paterson continue to struggle with increasing rates and inadequate services. This disparity demands targeted intervention that acknowledges the unique challenges of regional communities.
Government Failure and Disappointment
In 2024, I waited with cautious optimism for the Federal Budget announcement. As someone with a background in strategic planning and financial investment, I was certain our government would unveil increased investment and a revised plan to address this crisis.
The disappointment was bitter. What was presented wasn’t an emergency management plan befitting a national crisis—it was a long-term change project with vague outcomes:
Intimate partner homicide reduction targets of 25% by 2024
Research into behaviors constituting family violence (on a four-year cycle)
Surveys on community attitudes (also on a four-year cycle)
I felt disillusioned for the victims, for those women who are living in fear each and every day. I felt disillusioned for the frontline providers, already dealing with an impossible workload, a lack of funding, and an increasing waiting list. In fact, I felt an overwhelming lack of hope for all of us—victims, support workers, perpetrators, and the public as a whole.
The harsh reality is that despite declarations of domestic violence as a national crisis in 2024 and various funding announcements, neither major party has implemented the comprehensive approach needed to create meaningful change.
From Anger to Action: #EmbraceAnger as a Catalyst for Change
In March 2023, I wrote an article for International Women’s Day titled “#EmbraceAnger.” In it, I argued that those of us privileged enough to have a voice, resources, and safety should embrace anger on behalf of those who cannot. I wrote about how righteous anger can be a powerful catalyst for change when properly channeled.
I wrote: “For those with privilege, embracing anger isn’t just an option—it’s a responsibility. When you have the security to speak out, the resources to take action, and the platform to be heard, your anger can become a shield for those who cannot safely express their own.”
At the time, I didn’t realise how prophetic those words would become in my own life. As I watched the continued failure of our political system to address domestic violence, particularly in regional areas like Paterson, I felt that anger rising within me. But unlike before, I now understood it wasn’t enough to write about it—I needed to act.
This realisation, coupled with my personal experience navigating systems that failed me despite my relative privilege, became the catalyst for my last-minute decision to run in this election. If those with the means and ability to speak out don’t take action, who will?
Why I Entered the Paterson Election
My decision to run in the Paterson election stems directly from my personal experience with domestic violence and my professional expertise. I realised that I could no longer wait for others to solve this crisis. I needed to step forward and be part of the solution.
I was listening to Brené Brown on a podcast when she discussed Hope Theory—the idea that hope isn’t just an emotion but a cognitive behavioural process consisting of three elements: goal, pathway, and agency. In that moment, it dawned on me that hope is what we’re all missing in this fight against domestic violence.
The combination of clear goals, practical pathways, and personal agency hasn’t been illuminated for anyone in this system. And that’s exactly what I can bring to this fight.
Fighting for Safety in Paterson NSW
Improving safety in Paterson NSW requires a comprehensive, funded approach that treats domestic violence as the emergency it is. My platform focuses on Paterson election safety issues that have been ignored for too long.
If elected, I commit to:
Immediate Action: Advocating for domestic violence to be treated as the emergency it is, with appropriate funding and resources allocated accordingly.
Frontline Support: Securing guaranteed, multi-year funding for frontline services including crisis accommodation, counseling, legal assistance, and case management.
Housing Solutions: Developing specific housing pathways for domestic violence survivors, recognising that housing insecurity and domestic violence are deeply interconnected.
Legal System Reform: Working to improve the legal system’s response to domestic violence, reducing trauma through court processes and ensuring consistent protection.
Prevention Initiatives: Investing equally in prevention programs that address the root causes of violence, including comprehensive school programs and community education.
We Deserve Better
We all deserve to feel safe, seen, and heard. We deserve protection, safety, and solace. And at minimum, we deserve acknowledgment of this national emergency.
I remember the feeling of invisibility when seeking help—the systems meant to protect us frequently failing those who need them most. Every person deserves safety in their own home. Every victim deserves to be believed. Every survivor deserves support to rebuild their life.
The family violence statistics Paterson communities face demand more than sympathy—they demand action. When examining domestic violence Paterson residents experience, we see not just numbers but shattered lives, traumatised children, and communities in pain.
This Paterson election represents a crucial opportunity to prioritise safety in our community. I am running to ensure that domestic violence is no longer a peripheral issue but central to our political discourse. To give victim-survivors a voice. To demand concrete action from all candidates and parties.
Because the silence must end. And meaningful action must begin—especially here in Paterson, where our community needs it most.
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If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call 000 in an emergency or 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support.
