For many women, there is something safe and comfortable about having a chat about life to a hairdresser or beauty therapist - even when that chat moves to the topic of domestic violence.
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Women working in this industry often hear information about others who are in trouble at home, but they do not always know the right way to respond.
Wangaratta Council, Women's Health Goulburn North East, Victoria Against Violence and Northeast Health Wangaratta have come together to help with these situations, by holding a "conversations in the chair" event.
They have invited workers from all service industries who hear from victims who have disclosed domestic violence.
Rachael Mackay from WHGNE said the one-hour session was not about training them to be family violence workers - it was to provide information about the services available in the North East, which they could then pass on to their clients.
"A lot of people in the service industry hear those things and they're not really equipped to be counsellors, and we don't want them to be. We just want them to listen and to know what to do," she said.
"They're at the front line, people talk.
"It's amazing that people getting their hair done or getting something else done will talk, so we want to respond in an appropriate way."
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The initiative is being run as part of the annual worldwide "16 days of activism against gender violence".
Those welcome at the Wangaratta event include hairdressers, beauty therapists, tattoo artists, podiatrists or anyone else in the personal service industry.
"Often people haven't seen a friendly face for a long time so you actually talk a lot about yourself - people don't get that opportunity," Ms Mackay said.
She said the "conversations in the chair" event would also include information about workers looking after themselves after having been the person to offer support.
"There will be an element of how do you cope and who do you talk to," she said.
Lavish Hair and Beauty hairdresser Micaela Larkings said she has talked to clients in her Wangaratta shop about domestic violence, but is mindful of not taking on the issues herself.
She welcomed the opportunity to learn more about services in the North East.
"You get a small percentage of people who will come out and tell you," she said.
"I've spoken with a couple of clients of mine about where to go, but I don't really know what to do or what to say to help."
"Conversations in the chair" will be held at the Gateway Hotel on November 26 from 6pm-7pm. Anyone interested can email Alison Roberts at a.roberts@wangaratta.vic.gov.au.
