As part of the global 16 Days to End Gendered Violence campaign, members of Unions Shoalhaven, allies and community leaders took to Jellybean Park in a display of solidarity and frustration.

After hearing from Unions Shoalhaven secretary Patricia David and incumbent Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley, attendees formed a human chain.

The "chain of solidarity" was part of the call for 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave to be incorportaed into the National Employment Standards.

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Secretary of Unions Shoalhaven, Patricia David, said 10 days of paid domestic violence leave for all workers would take just one burden off the shoulders of someone leaving a dangerous situation.

"It just takes an extra burden, an extra worry off you, especially if you've got kids to feed," she told the South Coast Register.

"In my younger days, I had to go through that type of situation myself.

"In those days, there was nothing like that to help you in. So I do empathise with the people today who find themselves in that situation.

"It is a terrible, gut wrenching, isolated feeling, and I can't explain it any more than that."

Ms David hopes the campaign raises awareness of the issue given the high rates of domestic violence in the Shoalhaven.

There were 469 incidents of domestic violence related offences reported to police in the Shoalhaven from July 2020 to June 2021, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

"The more people that become aware of it, the better," said Ms David.

"And telling governments to pull your finger out a bit and help these people."

Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley spoke at the rally and backed the campaign.

Cr Findley touched on the review that found one in three federal parliament staff experienced sexual harassment while at work, released earlier this week.

"This week we've heard of the work settings around parliament," she said.

"It's little wonder that there's no action from the federal government when their own house is in such a shocking disarray."

To support the We Won't Wait campaign, buy a hand for $2 online here: https://chuffed.org/project/we-wont-wait-solidarity-chain

All proceeds will go to local organisations, split between the Illawarra Women's Health Centre and the Shoalhaven Homeless Hub.

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