Mining giant Rio Tinto has announced a domestic violence package that includes up to 10 days of extra leave and other support for affected workers.
The company on Tuesday said the leave would help employees deal with court proceedings, relocation and counselling, and that the firm will also offer short-term financial help and emergency accommodation to those in need.
Managing director for Australia Joanne Farrell said businesses had a vital role to play in addressing domestic violence.
""As a major Australian employer, we recognise our broader community responsibility to help address this issue, which is too often ignored," she said.
"Sadly, family and domestic violence is a widespread issue in society and one that Australian businesses across the country need to take steps to address."
Rio is the first Australian mining company to offer a domestic violence support package, which is available to the company's 19,000 Australian employees.
The support package will include providing appropriate safety plans to protect at-risk employees at work including security, new telephone numbers, screening or blocking calls and email protection.
Rio Tinto is working towards becoming accredited by White Ribbon Australia, which recognises workplaces taking steps to stop violence against women and currently reaches more than 600,000 workers.
Violence against women is estimated to cost the economy more than $21 billion each year, according to White Ribbon.
Almost two thirds of women who are in violent relationships are in paid work.
Rio Tinto's move follows a Fair Work Commission decision in July that unpaid family violence leave should be available to affected employees.
The commission rejected an ACTU claim that the leave should be paid but noted that did not mean a future finding that paid leave was needed was off the table.
