THE prevalence of family violence in the region is so "grim", hundreds of posters are about to be plastered on toilet doors across the Swan Hill municipality.
The #SayNO2familyviolence poster will be launched at the end of the walk and laminated copies will be distributed by the Business and Professional Women’s Club to all businesses, council, Swan Health District Health, education centres and sporting clubs to be placed on toilet doors.
Swan Hill Business and Professional Women’s Club's Helen Gell said the poster outlined what constituted family violence and the helplines that were available in an emergency.
"It will be put up basically behind every toilet door in Swan Hill," she said.
"In every business and public gathering place in the Swan Hill city area that we can reach."
Ms Gell said she wasn't surprised that Swan Hill had a family violence rate above the statewide average.
"Swan Hill has a high rate of incest and family violence and there are a multiple of reasons for all of that.
"I'm not personally shocked, but a lot of people in town have no idea how prevalent it is here because it hasn't touched them directly.
"If you don't work in that area, you would have no idea.
"It's alarming, but it's all got to with those lower education rates, isolation, pandemic lockdowns and mixed cultures.
"It's really scary.
"Everyone knows everyone's business in a small town, but in this case, the pluses outweigh the negatives."
Ms Gell said the situation was "grim".
"We only have one safety shelter house in town, and other survivors are put into motels.
"They are living with no personal laundry ... it's really grim."
