Australia's federal political leaders have vowed bipartisan support and urged an end to domestic violence as a charity to support victims launched in Tara Costigan's memory.
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A crowd of family members, friends, federal and territory politicians and support workers gathered for the official start of The Tara Costigan Foundation at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra on Sunday.
The Costigan family set up the charity after the 28-year-old's death allegedly at the hands of her ex-partner in February.
Ms Costigan, a mother of three, was one of three Canberra women killed in a string of violent deaths allegedly due to domestic violence this year.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott paid tribute to Ms Costigan and her family's efforts in setting up the domestic violence prevention charity in a video message.
"Tara Costigan's death is another reminder that our country must change, the community must change and we must change.
"It is a tribute to Tara Costigan's family that you are creating a legacy out of a tragedy."
Mr Abbott described violence against women and children as "absolutely abhorrent" and said the statistics were "shocking", with one in three Australian women over 15 experiencing violence in their lifetime.
"Real men don't hit, they don't threaten and they don't bully women or children," Mr Abbott said.
"But tragically, domestic violence remains prevalent in too many parts of our country."
Mr Abbott said domestic violence was a national priority and the federal government had committed more than $100 million during five years to protect women and children.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten said the Costigan family were making "a powerful living tribute to a life taken too soon".
"This year, on average two people have died every week as a result of family violence. It's been in our cities and in the bush, in high rises and leafy streets, in coastal villages and country towns.
"People of every faith, every tradition, every culture."
"But there is one thing that they all have in common, there's one characteristic they all share.
"They're women and their murderers are men."
Mr Shorten said if Australia were to eliminate family violence, it was men who needed to change.
But he believed "the tide was turning" on the problem in Australia.
"I believe that the era of pulling down the blinds, of turning up the volume of the television set to block out the noise next door, I believe that tide is turning."
But Mr Shorten said broader awareness of domestic violence was fundamental, but needed to transform into action from governments and communities to better support victims.
He pledged bipartisan support but called for more funding and support for Legal Aid, front-line crisis workers, police, magistrates, court officials, counselling, home security and safe housing.
Canberra Citizen of the Year Sue Salthouse, a disability advocate, officially launched the Canberra-based foundation and said it would make survival a safer reality for women who experienced violence.
"The Tara Costigan Foundation will support women to be victors out of victimhood."
Ms Costigan's uncle Michael Costigan said the foundation revolved around its motto of "together we are strong" and would promote respectful relationships throughout Australia.
It would also offer practical, long-term support for victims by providing personal care workers, or "angels", to women who experienced family violence for two years to help them navigate legal and support services and get their lives back on track.
Details: Visit taracostiganfoundation.com.
