Rates of family violence in western Victoria regions are the highest in the state.

Sergeant Mat Olsen from the Western District Family Violence Investigation Unit said the increase was linked heavily to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns.

"Given the nature of the tough lockdown restrictions we had, there were a lot of heightened tensions throughout families within homes," he said.

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"What we did last was a statewide operation called Operation Ribbon, which increased a focus on checking in with recidivist family violence offenders or people who were involved with family violence incidents reported to police."

Crime stats from early 2021 showed a jump in family violence based offences; over 1300 offences occurred in the home during March 2020 to March 2021 in the Horsham municipality alone.

The Victorian Police had implemented a new risk assessment questionnaire to help all uniformed officers assess a possible domestic violence situation.

It included almost 40 questions to help highlight red flags.

"It's about asking the right questions," Sergeant Olsen said.

This risk assessment was introduced from the Royal Commission into Family Violence recommendations.

Sergeant Olsen said there was ways the community could support at-risk families.

"If you feel that any of your family, friends or somebody else's safety is at risk, you can always reach out to police and make a report," he said.

If it's urgent, Sergeant Olsen said call could be made to triple zero; or contact support agencies to seek their guidance.

He said the main thing someone could do about domestic and family violence was to call it out.

"If you do see something happening that you believe is family violence, call out that behaviour or make sure that behaviour is reported," Sergeant Olsen said.

Education is key, Sergeant Olsen believes, to fight any cultural changes around family violence.

"It's education and if you think someone is experiencing something, make that contact to a support agency yourself and see what you can help people you think may be experiencing family violence."

Sergeant Olsen wanted to remind the community that there was no "average" victim.

"Family violence occurs through all aspects of community," he said.

"There is no standard victim, it can happen to anybody. It doesn't discriminate who it occurs to.

"If somebody discloses to you that they are experiencing family violence, it's important to believe what they are saying and try to assist what they are saying."

Sergeant Olsen explained that there was some elements of control used by perpetrators that could exacerbate a victim's ability to share their experience.

All uniformed officers of the Victoria Police are trained to respond to reports of family violence.

"Police will attend all reports of family violence incidents and every time they attend they complete a risk assessment with the victim, their children and the perpetrator to determine the appropriate action to keep the victim safe," Sergeant Olsen said.

"If we need to get someone out of a situation, we can do it."

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Sergeant Olsen said police worked with support agencies to get victims out of family violence situations and they would also be notified by support agencies if police were needed in a situation.

"Everybody works very well together to get someone out of a crisis situation," he said.

Sergeant Olsen implored that if anyone was in a family violence situation but felt like they could not contact police, to contact support agencies outside the police.

SafeSteps is the Victorian Government run Family Violence Response Centre.

SafeSteps have a 24/7 family violence response phone line, 1800 015 188.

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