"I would have been to my first Reclaim the Night march just as I hit double figures," she recalls.

But after four decades advocating for gender equality, Stott Despoja can feel that something has shifted when it comes to the public response to domestic violence in Australia.

"There is a momentum that is building in the community," the Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls says from her hometown of Adelaide. "People are sick and tired of the statistics."

One in three women over the age of 15 has been victim of physical violence. One in five has experienced sexual violence.

"But I think the figure that is now starting to make sense to people is 'a woman a week' [is killed by their partner or former partner]."

Stott Despoja, who is also the founding chair of the Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children, hails Rosie Batty's selection as Australian of the Year as a "milestone moment".

"In terms of what it symbolises, I don't think it can be underestimated."

But she is quick to stress that "action is what will count".

When asked what the Abbott government can reasonably do to take action, she is initially diplomatic.

She praises the federal government's $100 million "national plan" to reduce violence against women, before lamenting that there is simply not enough money to address the issue.

"We can no longer ignore the fact that we have to put money into the pointy end to stop the violence before it occurs," the former Democrats leader says.

She is not arguing that money should be taken away from state-funded front-line services like shelters, police and medical help, but says there needs to be a renewed focus on the perpetrators of violence.

"We've put a lot of money and time into shelters and women's and children's support services over the years, but the violence hasn't stopped."

She argues that governments would save at least $13.6 billion a year if there was no more domestic and family violence in Australia.

"If you think of the potential costs and savings, you start to realise that $100 million to combat family violence only scratches the surface."

Asked what she would do to change the situation if she was prime minister, the former senator is adamant.

"I would ensure that every school in every state and territory had 'healthy relationships training'. So that we can point out to the next generation that violence in whatever form is wrong. But also encourage and instil in them a sense of men and women being equal."

Like Batty, Stott Despoja also wants to see a national community awareness campaign get underway immediately, backed by federal funds.

This week, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that domestic violence would be made a COAG priority, saying the body would be asked to "act urgently" to agree on a scheme that will ensure domestic violence orders can transfer between states.

Stott Despoja welcomes the move, but notes the issue and the policy solution are not new.

So why is it taking governments so long to take the action that's needed, when the scope and severity of the issue are so well known?

"I think we're shamed by these statistics," Stott Despoja says.

"There is a taboo and a stigma associated with family violence that makes it difficult for us sometimes to address."

She adds that the link the between gender inequality and violence also complicates matters.

"Why do male perpetrators commit violent acts against women?

"You realise that women must be considered less worthy. And no society wants to admit that about itself.

"But we must."