Related Content:THE Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Service have been helping people for more than 35 years.

The service has a five-bedroom crisis facility, 16 transitional houses and an outreach centre which covers the entire local government area.

The community partnerships program helps those in high-risk situations, while the specialist housing support project is recognition that domestic violence and homelessness often coexist.

DFVSS is the only women's service in the state to have responisiblity for a men's domestic violence behaviour change program.

The service also works in schools through the successful Love Bites early intervention program.

The annual White Ribbon Coastal Walk is another successful iniative; one that has gained so much attention it resulted in the town being the only regional centre in the country chosen to host a forum this month.

It's an impressive array of options, but service delivery manager Kylie Dowse said the biggest obstacle for most people is reaching out.

"It's very hard to take that first step," she said.

"A lot of women aren't even sure if they're experiencing domestic violence.

"They're still just feeling really confused, mixed up and emotional and they're just not sure what to do."

What advice would she give to someone at that stage?

"Just make that phone call.

"It's hard to make that call, but it's up to us to make the rest of it as easy as we can.

"We will treat you with respect and gentleness and understanding.

"We're not going to convince you to leave your partner - that's not our role.

"Our role is to support you to feel strong in the decisions you are making."

More recent efforts at formal partnerships with NSW Police and Family and Community Services have given some hope.

"You could put three more refuges in Port Macquarie and they'd still all be full," Mrs Dowse said.

"It's really about the quality of the services and their effectiveness in communicating together."

The service works closely with domestic violence liaison officer Taya Bailey, whose main role is to support those impacted during the legal process.

Senior Constable Bailey helps with seeking apprehended violence orders, then refers people to other services for "additional support they may require to keep them safe".

She said women may take years to report assaults, or police might be notified by a concerned friend or neighbour.

The police often get involved when the violence starts to affect children.

"Women are generally very traumatised when we meet, and commonly present with extremely low self worth," she said.

She is there to help with complex issues as women navigate "housing, family law and financial concerns".

"As a woman and a mother I feel empathy for the victims I meet.

"It is very confronting to speak with women and children and hear of the extreme violence they are living with daily."

Like Mrs Dowse, the officer agreed that the current profile of domestic violence is "just the tip of the iceberg".