It is only as a whole community that we can change the future of this state. 

We need to change our cultural identity, our ingrained thoughts and our intergenerational ideals if we ever want to put a stop to this tragedy.

In some parts of Australia, domestic violence was found to be the leading preventable risk factor contributing to death, disability and illness in women aged between 15 and 44.  

What is also known is just how long consequences of family violence can linger after a person’s exposure to family violence has come to an end.

Sometimes, it is easy to forget just how hard Tasmanian officers on the frontline of domestic violence incidents work on a daily basis.

It is easy to forget what they see, what scenes they walk into and the potential risks they are faced with.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said the first thing we needed to recognise as a community was the vast levels of underreporting on family violence.

When officers are called to a family violence incident, they never know what to expect.

It could be an argument that is quickly brought under control or it could be something much more physically violent.

But no matter what, when they knock on a door, they have to be prepared for whatever it is that lies in front of them.

“Sometimes police officers might get up to three matters of family violence that they get called to in a shift,” Commissioner Hine said.

“There can be the horrific scene of a family violence murder to dealing with a case of emotional abuse or anything in between.”

But Commissioner Hine knows from experience that not all scars are visible.

“Any family violence against a man or a woman is not acceptable and we’ll treat everyone in the same manner,” he said.

“We’ve trained our police officers to deal with a situation, to make sure that they’re sensitive to the issue and not only assess the victim but hold the perpetrator to account.

“It’s not only a policing issue, we’ll obviously react and assist the victims, but at the end of the day it’s a community issue and it takes a real cultural change to stop this.”

Already, three additional specialised police prosecutors have been employed to deal with family violence matters, adding up to nine prosecutors employed across the state.

Commissioner Hine’s message is loud and clear - there is a long list of changes our community needs to be making to put a stop to domestic violence.

“We need to start in our schools and our very young people to make sure that they get the message about what a respectful relationship is all about,” he said.

“Let’s not just stand by and accept those derogatory jokes about women, let’s actually stand up against family violence to make sure that it’s not acceptable.

“We need to tell our children at a very young age what a respectful relationship is all about and how we treat one another.”

Governor of Tasmania Kate Warner has been a long term advocate of the rights of women and the need for equality in our society.

She said that given domestic violence was often a hidden crime, it was difficult to say whether there had been an increase or decrease in actual incidents.

“The fact that more incidents are reported can merely mean that the reporting rate has increased and may say nothing about an actual increase,” Professor Warner said.

“The costs are physical, psychological and social.”

Professor Warner said she was pleased with both the Australian and Tasmanian government’s responses to the issue, especially in recent years.

“It is particularly pleasing to see that efforts are also being focussed on developing a framework for primary prevention of violence against women and their children and that effort is being directed at this as well as improving our responses to family violence,” she said.

“Every one of us can get behind the efforts of the government and non-governmental agencies and groups to make sure that women are respected, valued and treated as equals in private and public life.”

Premier and White Ribbon ambassador Will Hodgman described the crisis of domestic violence in Australia as horrific and appalling.

“We must have this difficult conversation for the sake of future generations because growing up in a violent and abusive home is debilitating for adults and especially children,” Mr Hodgman said.

“This is an entirely preventable emotional and financial cost and it is up to every Tasmanian to stop hiding from this issue and to speak up – have the conversation with your children around the dinner table tonight or at the pub with your mates.

“Just imagine if our combined efforts could be channelled in a different and more positive direction rather than dragged back by domestic violence and trying to pick up the pieces after the event.” 

Mr Hodgman said domestic abusers should never be excused because they have control of their actions.

“They choose to do it in private and against their so-called loved ones because they know that they can’t get away with it in public,” he said.

“We can’t pretend it is not an issue or a problem because the statistics clearly show the opposite is true.

“Abusers make a choice and we must also make a choice. Speak up about domestic violence and if you suspect one of your friends is being abused then talk to them, offer support and most importantly listen without being judgmental.”

In an ongoing Breaking the Silence feature, The Examiner will spend six weeks speaking to the state’s leaders, young people, educators and community members to determine how we can put an end to domestic violence in Tasmania.

Look out for the next edition on July 7.