"[We are] very busy at the moment," Dunedin Women's Refuge Kaiwahakahaere Wenda Parata-Muir said.
More people were talking about family violence and saying 'that's not OK', which meant demand for its services had increased.
"The busier we become, that's a good thing."
Nationally, the Women's Refuge received 78,161 calls via its 24-hour crisis support line in 2013-14. During that time, 16,178 women and children needed its services.
"You don't have to come to the safe house in order to get support from Women's Refuge," Mrs Parata-Muir said.
Women accessed 54% of the refuge's services, while 46% needing the services were children.
"Children become the silent victims of abuse," she said.
The Dunedin Women's Refuge helped children in family violence situations through their 10-week "Tamariki" programme, supporting children aged 5-17. The focus of this year's appeal, which began on Friday, as well as raising money for the refuge, was to help women to keep themselves safe while online.
Mrs Parata-Muir said women with abusive partners needed to be "thinking strategic" when online - such as opening incognito windows on the web if they were searching for help or support, or changing their email password daily.
Mrs Parata-Muir said family and friends must support victims of family violence when their story is told.
"Believe her story without judgement or blame," she said. "How people respond to domestic violence can make a huge difference for a woman who has been courageous to make the first step."
The Dunedin Women's Refuge Appeals Week runs until Saturday, July 25.
By Greta Yeoman.
