NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR) data shows there were 2997 domestic violence related assaults across the 11 Hunter local government areas in the year up to June 30 this year, equivalent to an average of 8.2 every day.

This is up from 2167 in the year to June 30, 2001, when there was an average of 5.9 assaults every day.

In  NSW, there were 28,939 assaults in the past financial year, or 79.3 a day, up from 21,546 in the year to June 2001, when there was an average of 59 a  day.

Lake Macquarie had the highest number of incidents reported in  the area in the past financial year, with 730,  compared with 544 in the year in the year to June 2001, the equivalent of a 34 per cent increase.

Gloucester had the smallest number in the past year, 15, compared  with the seven  incidents in the year to June 2001, but this equated to an 114 per cent increase.

The local government area with the largest percentage increase over the past 15 years was Muswellbrook (44 incidents in 2001 to 115 in 2015) at 161 per cent, while Port Stephens jumped 99 per cent (172 to 343), Maitland 73 per cent (232 to 401) and Cessnock 55 per cent (235 to 366).

There were 709 recorded assaults in Newcastle in 2014-15, up 6.3 per cent from 2001.

Assaults dropped in Singleton, falling a drop of 2.7 per cent (73 incidents to 71).

Manager of Hunter Domestic Violence Support and Advisory Services Paula Mudd said the alarming figures were just the tip of the iceberg.

‘‘It’s a blight,’’ Ms Mudd said.

‘‘A lot of women don’t report domestic violence and I think the figure would frighten people if everybody knew the real numbers.’’

The organisation established women’s and children’s refuge Jodie’s Place in the Cessnock-Branxton area in September 2013 and has since welcomed 40 women and 56 children through its doors.

Most, she said, were  ‘‘numb’’ when they arrived, after being referred through the Domestic Violence Line, Department of Housing and other agencies.

‘‘We don’t force anybody to do anything against their will – they know they can talk to us 24 hours a day.’’

The refuge can accommodate 11 people at any one time across its three bedrooms and is almost always at full capacity.

Some families stay for four to six weeks, while others stay for between three and four months until they can find housing.

‘‘We seem to be seeing an increase in demand from women who want to come,’’ Ms Mudd said.

‘‘I hope that’s because more women are reporting and seeking help; I hope it’s not because domestic violence is increasing to that extent.’’

Ms Mudd said she even gets telephone calls at 3am and the refuge has to turn away between five and 13 women every week.

‘‘We can’t be the only ones doing that,’’ she said.

‘‘It is really hard on refuges across the Hunter Valley, we’re all struggling because the demand is too great.’’

Ms Mudd welcomed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s $100 million package to help stop violence against women but said funding must reach those working at the grassroots level.

She called for a forum for domestic violence workers – not open to politicians and academics – to advise the government on what was needed in the sector and also for authorities to require those served with apprehended violence orders attend a course about domestic violence.

Ms Mudd also suggested Housing NSW offer transitional houses, where women leaving refuges could build up a rental history before moving on to privately owned accommodation.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Adam Walton from the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command’s domestic violence team has praised a new program that allows officers to record video and audio statements from victims in their homes after an alleged incident. Sergeant Walton said the current rollout of the program  would ensure victims  did not have to go to a police station and relive the incident and it also captured their emotional state, which could be shown to a magistrate in court.

His team, comprising two full-time domestic violence liaison officers and a number of proactive officers, is one of only a handful in the state with a mandate to focus exclusively on targeting offenders and helping victims access services to escape continued abuse.

‘‘Domestic violence is prevalent across our community and across society,’’ Sergeant Walton said. ‘‘But victims are never alone.

‘‘As police we encourage them to come forward to tell somebody and talk to police so we can make a positive step forward and protect them and their children.’’

The team helps victims  feel safe and comfortable enough to report domestic violence.