The number of domestic violence incidents reported over the holiday season has gone down on previous years, agencies have reported.

The Physical Abuse Centre said it was glad to report that only ten calls were received by the refuge over the Christmas and New Year period - which is typically considered to be the worst time of the year for household violence.

During the same period last year, there were 16 calls from victimised men and women.

Chairwoman June Augustus said although it received the handful of calls, nobody wished to leave their home and stay at the victims' refuge, which was unusual.

"This Christmas, ironically, we were not very busy as far as calls coming in was concerned," she said.

"Over the entire holiday, we only had ten calls, and normally we would have had more. I think it must be down to education.

"Of the people who did call, eight were women and two were men, who all claimed to have been battered. But for all they called up asking for advice, they did not want to leave their homes. Most of them just wanted somebody to talk to."

The Women's Resource Centre also reported an unusually quiet festive season.

Executive director Penny Dill said the centre received a couple of calls, but was definitely not busy.

However, she said the centre often picked up pace later in January, when people felt more able to call and discuss their problems once the holidays were over.

"We thought it was kind of unusual because it has been very quiet, but hopefully it's a good sign," said Ms Dill.

"Normally, for us, by the end of January, we will get a better idea of what has been happening after everything calms down.

"We have had a couple of calls, but we have not been busy."

Mrs. Augustus said The Physical Abuse Centre was not open for a couple of days over the holiday, however, it had a 24-hour hotline in operation throughout.

But she said after a fairly busy year throughout 2002, the agency expected more people would call the hotline for help.

Last year, the agency took a total of 532 calls from people in search of help to escape domestic violence.

In 2001, the number of calls received was marginally higher at 544; and in 2000 the number was 627.

Mrs. Augustus said she did not fully understand the fluctuation in the figures, but hoped the help and support groups ran by the agency were paying off.

On Monday evenings, batterers can attend a 26-week programme designed to teach them a new way of behaving and acting.

As domestic violence is considered a learned behaviour, and not an illness, perpetrators must re-learn how they treat people and react in different situations.

The Physical Abuse Centre's group facilitator, Rosana Vickers, said the road was not an easy one, and it was a life-long programme for abusers to re-educate themselves.

Although women are also known to attack men, few women come forward for the course. The session is made up of all men.

And on Wednesday nights, the centre offers a support group for men and women who are victims, where they can share experiences and help each other through their difficulties.

But Ms Vickers said, although the centre was for victims, both men and women, it was mostly females who called for assistance and who attended the support group, although some men are beginning to go to the centre for help.

For help or advice about domestic violence, contact the Physical Abuse Centre on 292-4366, or the Women's Resource Centre on 295-3882.