Support workers have renewed calls for a more holistic policy approach to family violence to reshape social attitudes, boost resources and improve co-ordination between service providers.

The ACT's Domestic Violence Crisis Service dealt with 15,644 calls to its crisis line in 2013-14, up from 13,959 the previous year, and provided direct intervention for 1408 people, up from 1096 in 2012-13.

The support agency was one of many ACT services giving evidence to the Senate inquiry into domestic violence, which held a public hearing at Parliament House on Wednesday.

The inquiry is considering factors which have contributed to rates of domestic violence and the effect of policies regarding housing, legal services and women's finances.

ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service executive director Mirjana Wilson said a 45 per cent increase in demand for services in the past six years, with no boost to staff or funds, meant only the most vulnerable women received help.

"Though you can't say there's more domestic violence happening, there are more reports of domestic violence and that's the significant difference," she said.

That meant cases were triaged so staff could offer a swift response.

But Ms Wilson said leaving a violent partner was "a process, not a single event" and the service could not provide the necessary long-term support for women.

She said women who fled violent relationships were left to cope with housing and financial matters; their children were likely traumatised and they often struggled to hold down a job and cope mentally themselves.

"Nine months down the track, she'll either return to the relationship or succumb to secondary homelessness," Ms Wilson said.

The ACT Domestic Violence Prevention Council, in a written submissions to the inquiry, said the problem was compounded by the territory's high rental costs, a shortage of crisis accommodation, and the lack of affordable housing.

"A shortage of affordable and appropriate housing continues to remain a key issue in the ACT, with one of the most expensive housing markets of all states and territories making it very difficult for women leaving violence to rent somewhere to live," council chairwoman Marcia Williams said.

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre chief executive Chrystina Stanford agreed most women experienced "the most significant trauma impact" in the months after the initial crisis.

She said inadequate resources for family violence support services put pressure on other services and often meant the impact on children was not properly addressed.

"I often think if we had any other issue that was happening in such epidemic proportions, we would be doing a lot more," Ms Stanford said.

Inanna Inc chief executive Jill Kelly said recent staff cuts meant the crisis accommodation support service could only provide ongoing support to about two families at a time, while up to 15 families waited.

"What services have done is basically turn themselves inside out after the cuts so as not to impact on women and children," she said.

"The system itself is really stretched and women and children are not getting the support they need."

Beryl Women Inc acting manager Angie Piubello said women's refuges were vital yet under-appreciated in their ability to provide families with ongoing, consistent and timely support.

Canberra Men's Centre managing director Greg Aldridge said there was also a need for a more sustained approach to counselling and one-on-one support, as opposed to one-off education programs, for male perpetrators.

"It's very easy to throw them in jail, but the longer they're there, the more likely they are to blame the woman for being in there," he said.

"They're in an environment that endorses and celebrates violence, so when they come out, they're much more likely to reoffend."

ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner John Hinchey said while there were appropriate systems in place to deal with domestic violence, extra resources were needed to co-ordinate various service providers.

He also said the federal government needed to lead a national push to change attitudes towards family violence.

"That's really an education issue and it would really need to be done on a national level, like the anti-smoking campaigns," he said.

The committee's report on the inquiry is due to be delivered to Parliament this month.