YOU are the most important weapon in the war against domestic violence.

One in three Australian women experience physical, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse from their partners.

In many cases they are powerless to walk away.

Some stay because they fear for their lives and others will not go because they dread leaving behind their children and their pets.

Throughout APN Regional Media's campaign to end domestic and family violence, there has been one clear message from the experts.

Police, psychologists, academics and welfare workers all agree - if you know it is happening then you need to step up.

Queensland Police Chief Superintendent Debbie Platz said shining the light on family assaults could save lives.

"When you talk to a lot of victims and people in the community, they still feel that domestic violence is something that goes on behind closed doors and is the business of that particular family," the State Government's Domestic and Family Violence Taskforce inter-agency committee police representative said.

"They tend not to get involved - they don't report it and they don't get help.

"Unfortunately domestic violence is one of those things that can escalate and it can continue until somebody breaks the cycle."

Chief Superintendent Platz urged witnesses to take action.

"It's really important that if you suspect or you know there are offences occurring in a family home that you report that," she said.

"You can report it anonymously through Crime Stoppers, or through the police, or it might be that you simply lend a hand and help with support.

"Sometimes it just needs one person to make that small intervention, which will help."

Northern NSW Region Superintendent Craig Rae said taking the first step was simple.

"The reality of an abusive relationship is it's unlikely to change unless people are prepared to come forward and report it to police so we can then take appropriate action," Superintendent Rae said.

Paul Linossier, the chief executive of national domestic violence change organisation Our Watch, said sometimes all it took was starting a conversation.

"If we see someone behaving inappropriately or speaking inappropriately can we take them aside and say: 'You know I wasn't really comfortable with that behaviour. I reckon we can do better than that - I don't think that's what you want for your daughter'," he said.

Domestic violence academic, Professor Heather Douglas, said the community needed to change the way it thought about women and their roles in relationships.

"Violence against women is about sexism," the University of Queensland criminal law academic said. "It is gender politics, a lot of the time.

"A lot of the time violence begins with language and the way women are being described and perceived - we need to encourage our friends, our families and our children to call it when they see it and be strong about that.

"We really need to change the way we think about women and women in relationships - and that can start today."

If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic or family violence or sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800737732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, phone 000.