Domestic Violence

Triple Zero (000) is Australia's main emergency service number. You should call 000 if you need urgent help from police, fire or ambulance services.

Click Here for the Bathurst Community Directory.

Click Here for more information on local services. 

In July 2024, the Bathurst Community Safety Committee, in conjunction with key community stakeholders, identified the need to raise awareness of domestic violence within the community.

The Red Bench Project was the first campaign under the Bathurst Community Safety Plan. The Red Bench Project was established in 2019 in partnership with the Red Rose Foundation and has seen four red benches installed in Kings Parade, Machattie Park, Haymarket Reserve, and the Kelso Community Hub. The presence of a red bench aims to raise public awareness that domestic violence occurs in all communities.

In 2025, Council has installed new plaques with QR Codes on all Red Benches in Bathurst. The QR Codes serve as a digital gateway to provide access to support services through, and to increase community awareness of, our Red Benches.

This included the installation of a new Red Bench at Plus Community in Kelso. 

Click Here for information on Red Bench Locations.

Bathurst Regional Council is registered with DV Safe Phone to deliver the DV Safe Phone Box program. The aim of this program is to have old mobile phones donated through the DV Safe Phone Boxes to be recycled as mobile devices for victim-survivors of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV).

For DFV victim-survivors, access to a safe phone can mean the difference between life and death. Perpetrators often use phones to control and monitor their victims, leaving them isolated and without a secure way to keep in contact with friends and family or seek help.

Council Safe Phone drop off locations:

• Bathurst Regional Council – Civic Centre (ground floor)
• Bathurst Library

Your phone will be refurbished and provided to someone in need, ensuring they have a safe way to reach help and support services.

Prior to donating a phone, please make sure that you sanitise the phone by erasing all personal data. For information on how to sanitise your phone, please go to Donate Phones - Save Lives. 

Local organisations can register with DV Safe Phones to become a donation point for old phones or distributor of phones to clients by contacting the DV Safe Phones program -  DV Safe Phone - Donate Phones, Donate Funds

In 2015, the Bathurst Community Safety Committee, in conjunction with key community stakeholders worked on increasing the awareness of Domestic Related Violence and its impact on the local community.

The ‘Bathurst Says No to Domestic Violence’ campaign was launched in November 2015.

The campaign is focused on members of the community taking the pledge to say no to domestic violence. White Ribbon Australia came on board as a supporter of the initiative, and Bathurst Mayor was inducted as a White Ribbon Ambassador.

The 'Bathurst Says No to Domestic Violence’ Facebook page currently gained more than 700 likes, and hundreds of pledges from members of the Bathurst Community. The ‘DV Pledge Booth’ was set up in various locations around Bathurst including Bathurst City Centre, Bathurst CSU Campus, Bathurst Regional Council Civic Centre and Works Depot, Stockland Bathurst, Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre and Denison College Kelso High Campus. Community members were able to pledge their support by having their picture taken whilst holding up the campaign poster, with the images then posted to the Facebook page. 

In 2016 The Bathurst Community Safety Committee continued to increase awareness and expand the ‘Bathurst Says No to Domestic Violence’ campaign, encouraging all members of the community to pledge their support.

1 in 3 women have been subjected to violence at least once in their lifetime, with less than 40% of these women seeking help of any sort.  

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence takes place annually from 25 November to 10 December and is a time to come together and take action to end violence against women and girls, and all other forms of gender-based violence.  

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).  In an emergency, call the Police on 000 (triple zero). 

16 Days of Activism 2025(PDF, 612KB)

16 Days of Activism Reading List(PDF, 111KB)