Beyond the Silence

Light the Night

Rural and Regional communities unite for change.

Multiple communities come together on the same night with a united message; to say NO to domestic violence and abuse.

Last year, the Wingecarribee joined Pop In at Briars Inn, to pay respect to those who lost their lives to domestic violence and abuse in 2025. And further to reflect, remember and stand together against domestic violence and abuse.

This year, communities around NSW are joining Pop In to create a movement - Beyond the Silence. The vision is growing, with organisations across rural and regional communities holding their own local vigils on the same night.

Why rural and regional communities?

• Across Australia, people living in regional, rural and remote communities are 24 times more likely to be hospitalised because of family and domestic violence than people living in major cities. (Community Legal Centres)

• The costs of delivering domestic and family violence services in regional, rural, and remote communities, is up to 8.94 times higher than cities. (DVNSW, 2025)

• Rates of domestic violence related assault vary across NSW with higher per capita rates in remote and regional areas. (Boscar, 2026)

• Higher rates of gun ownership and a strong sense of privacy create further barriers, compelling women to stay in violent relationships (Woods, 2023).

• A recent survey of fourteen regional and remote member services found that DFV services operated at almost 300% of their funded capacity for 2024–25 (DVNSW, 2025).

Pop In’s Vigil: