The bubbly and smart primary school teacher said she was "swept off her feet".

"He was charming, romantic, a great conversationalist," she said.

Soon she found herself isolated, in a new country and living in fear.

Did she think about leaving?

"I was totally isolated, I didn't feel there was anything I could do, I knew one person in Melbourne," she said.

And it was complicated.

"There was a part of me that was in love," she said.

"You fall in love with that person and even when you see traits that terrify you or disgust you, you still hold out hope because he wasn't like that in the beginning.

"At times I blamed myself."

After eight years Ms Natoli eventually managed to leave the relationship.

"Every insult, every assault, every friend that stands by you or you lose you hope they will all add up and be building blocks that lead you to the final escape," she said.

Through a family she was working for as a nanny she managed to secure short-term accommodation.

Rebuilding wasn't easy.

"I had five different homes in seven weeks," she said.

"It was really tough.

"It did take time to rebuild my life but every day without him I became stronger, started to feel like my old self.

"I went to domestic violence support groups and I went to counselling; and through it all, I had my caseworker there, supporting me, encouraging me, empowering me.

"She was there for me every step of the way; helping me believe I could be happy again, reminding me that I deserved to live free from abuse.

"No matter how tough it was it was nothing compared to living in fear every single day."

Now Ms Natoli wants to help others in abusive relationships with her charity The Lokahi Foundation.

"I realised that every woman leaving an abusive relationship needed to have a caseworker like mine - and so the idea for the Lokahi Foundation was born," she said.

The Foundation focuses solely on case management to ensure that domestic abuse survivors are offered ongoing support without a time limit to regain their independence and freedom.

Ms Natoli is the guest speaker at the Coastal Walk against Domestic Violence on Sunday, December 1 in Port Macquarie.

What does she want to say to women trapped in an abusive relationship?

"I want people to know that it doesn't matter how many times you try and leave you shouldn't feel bad if you go back as long as you keep trying to the point of leaving" she said.

"There is a lot of shame when people try and leave and go back.

"People don't stick by them, they think they are weak."

She also wants women to know there is support available.

Most importantly she wants those women to know they they are "worth so much more".

"It is easy for people to say that but I have been through it so I feel I have the right to say it."

The Port Macquarie Coastal Walk Against Domestic Violence is on Sunday, December 1.

Participants can do the full 11km starting at Lighthouse Beach at 8.00am, 3km starting at Flynns Beach at 9.00am, or 2km starting at Town Beach at 9.30am.

Free buses will run from Westport Park to Lighthouse and Flynns at the start of the walk.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence contact the National Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Service on 1800 737 732 or contact the local service Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services on (02) 6583 2155