It shattered lives, made women and children homeless and accounted for two out of every three murders committed in the ACT.

Understandably, many victims were reluctant to report attacks to the police and, in some instances, concealed what was going on from family and friends.

That was until 2015, one of the darkest year's in the ACT's history when three women and one man were allegedly murdered in acts of domestic and family related violence.

They were Tara Costigan, struck down with an axe by her ex-partner, Marcus Rappel, as she was feeding their week-old daughter; Sabah Al-Mdwali; Daniela D'Addorio and Neal Wilkinson.

Their deaths, now widely recognised as potentially preventable tragedies, sparked public outrage. The community finally said "enough is enough".

Street marches, community vigils, a visit to by high profile anti-family violence campaigner and Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty, and the establishment of the Tara Costigan Foundation all helped to put the issue front and centre.

This has had two significant effects. One has been to dramatically increase the number of people reporting violence and seeking assistance.

The other was the ACT Government's decision to introduce a $30 a household domestic violence levy in the 2016-2017 budget. It is funding the $21.4 million, four year, Safer Families initiative.

While it may take some time for the longer term effectiveness of many of the program's elements to be known, the results on the reporting front have been dramatic and immediate.

This time last year The Canberra Times reported police had laid more than 1000 family violence related charges in the previous 12 months and were attending up to 12 separate incidents a day.

Australia's second annual National Family Violence Summit, held in Canberra in February, was told the offender rate for family and domestic violence charges had jumped by 35 per cent from 459 people to 624 people in 2015-2016.

There had also been a 30 per cent increase in demand for domestic violence support.

Legal Aid ACT, often the first line of defence for individuals charged with domestic violence, told an inquiry into the effectiveness of Safer Families this week the increase in reports and charges offered an opportunity to deal with the issue at its source that was being overlooked.

"Legal Aid regularly appears for (first time) family violence offenders," service chief executive, Dr John Boersig, said. "These offenders are unlikely to see any significant sentence that might assist to bring about behavioural change... some of them are given no conviction and sent on their way".

Dr Boersig said individuals identified through the court system as having a propensity towards family violence should be offered the opportunity to take part in programs to assist them to modify their behaviour.

This type of intervention at an early stage in the offending process could ultimately save the victims, and the offenders, a lot of unnecessary pain and grief.

It is an excellent idea that should be acted upon.