But for every tragedy, there is an account of strength and resilience – where a safety net has caught a woman, man or child escaping abuse.

This is the view of angelhands founder Ann O’Neill, key note speaker at the 2016 White Ribbon Ball.

“Seventy per cent of what we do is great and events like this are an opportunity to celebrate those working tirelessly in this area,” she said.

“The pathway to safety is often facilitated, and in those cases where it isn’t … are the only ones we hear about.”

Reporting of domestic violence is something Dr O’Neill has written about in relation to her own experience.

In 1994, Dr O’Neill’s estranged husband broke into her home and shot dead her children, aged six and four, before taking his own life.

She was shot trying to protect them and her right leg was later amputated.

In a Sydney Morning Herald comment piece from November, Dr O’Neill wrote; “The only thing worse than having your family murdered is being blamed for it.

“The most common question I got asked after this event was ‘what did you do to make him do that?’.”

Dr O’Neill said media coverage had improved over the years as conversations became more informed.

“In the last couple years, we started to see more in-depth pieces that can pull out complexities,” she said.

“If we look not only at the growth in angelhands but in awareness organisations working in primary prevention, we start to see a community shift around these issues.”

Last year, angelhands provided recovery training and support to more than 200 victims of extreme trauma.

Founding the organisation is on a long list of Dr O’Neill's achievements advocating for victims of domestic violence.

The Perth woman is an Our Watch ambassador, the inaugural patron of the Waratah Support Centre and this month won the 42nd John Curtin Medal for her PhD research on secondary victims of murder.

Dr O’Neill said her studies had reinforced the importance of proactive investment in family violence.

“Most people don’t realise for every murder there is a $2.2 million impact on the economy,” she said.

“We need to have an investment of resources across short and long term prevention and I don’t think governments can do that without a community understanding of why that’s necessary.”

The importance of prevention is among a range of messages Dr O’Neill has for the Border community.

“John F. Kennedy said ‘I thought somebody should do something – then I realised I was someone’,” she said.

“It’s up to each and every one of us to walk the talk.”

The White Ribbon Ball will take place on Saturday, November 12 from 6.30pm at the Commercial Club.

For support with domestic and family violence, call 1800 RESPECT.