A new program in New South Wales aims to give church leaders better guidance on what to do if family violence is reported in their community.
Recent cases of domestic violent in migrant communities in Australia have highlighted the need for more awareness about support services.
Family issues are often handled within the community, where religious leaders carry influence.
It's been more than two years since Wubanchi Asefaw's death.
But for her mother, Asnaku Eshete, the grief is still fresh.
The 25 year-old was stabbed to death by her husband, Solomon Jenbare, who is now serving a jail sentence for manslaughter.
Wubanchi's family says she had sought help about her relationship from community and church leaders who told her to go back to her husband.
The case has highlighted the need to better educate migrant communities on how to respond to domestic situations -- including family violence.
The NSW Ecumenical Council says churches have an important role to play.
It's launched a domestic violence information program, encouraging priests to refer anyone seeking advice about DV directly to professional support groups.
New South Wales Ecumenical Council Secretary, Father Shenouda Mansour, says family violence is becoming increasingly prevalent, meaning the churches must respond.
The program includes information packs with contact details for refuges and family violence services, in several languages.
Salvation Army Captain Robyn Black says it will be particularly valuable to recently arrived migrants -- many of whom are dependent on religious communities when they first move to Australia.
New South Wales Police Multicultural Liaison Officer Assefa Bekele says the program could help end family violence early, before it becomes entrenched.
The program is being launched across churches in New South Wales early in 2017.
Similar programs are already underway in other parts of the country.
