While the federal government’s $100 million safety package promises new technology – such as CCTV and GPS trackers – as well as training for health and legal workers, Centre for Non Violence chief executive Margaret Augerinos said crisis centres and refuges remained in desperate need of funds.

“Investment in our frontline services is just not keeping pace with the demand,” Ms Augerinos said.

“We're expected to see 30 times the number of women with one week’s resource - that's the reality.

“There are so many women that we are not seeing because we just don't have capacity.”

While she said it was promising that crisis line 1800 RESPECT had been given $5 million in the package, more needed to be done for life-saving shelters.

“At the end of the day they can only do so much over the phone. Women have to be referred into specialist supports and into refuges and if there's nowhere for them to go if we don't have capacity, then that's a huge risk,” she said.

“As women are starting to think about leaving this is the most dangerous time for them, including the risk of being killed by their partners or ex-partners, so frontline services do need increased funding.”

She said current funding was insufficient to deal with the enormity of the problem.

“It is very piecemeal, there’s very little stability in funding for services and we have no certainty from one year to the next,” she said.

Member of the Council of Australian Government’s advisory panel on violence against women Julie Oberin welcomed the new strategies and the philosophy of helping women remain safe at home, but said women often needed a refuge in the short term.

“We've got an increasingly longer waiting list for counselling and when we're full, we're full - we can't take any more,” Ms Oberin, who also leads a refuge committee, said.

“Women often get put in hotels and caravan parks which is completely unsuitable and unsafe.

“They do want to take the pressure off refuges and crisis services, but they can't not be increased right now.”

She encouraged women to seek help as soon as they could after recognising violence.

“It’s not just about bruises and broken bones and murders - it's about power and coercive control and emotional abuse,” Ms Oberin said.

“It’s important to encourage women to seek help before they decide to leave, so that they can talk through a safety plan about what might happen … rather than just leave because it can escalate so badly.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing violence or sexual assault, phone 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.