Sexual assault awareness charity 'What Were You Wearing?' hosted an International Women's Day Picnic the Foreshore Park Carriage Sheds on Tuesday.

The free event aimed to break the bias on sexual violence against women and acknowledge the seven women in Australia that have been killed by acts of domestic violence this year.

Nova for Women and Children CEO Kelly Hansen spoke at the event and said violence agains women was at a crisis point.

Between July 2020 and June 2021 Nova, which provides crisis accommodation for women at risk of homelessness, assisted 1655 women.

"Let me remind you we are only one of three services in this area. None of this information is new. We have been providing data on this for decades and yet the situation worsens for women and women with children. This current year is looking no better with our data tracking against last year at a similar level," said Ms Hansen.

"On this grand day of celebration it is a shocking fact that more and more older women are experiencing homelessness for no other reason than long term inequality and inequity. They are living in poverty and attempting to survive.

"It will take a fearless approach that encompasses both practical, immediate and long term solutions and a cultural shift that validates women's roles and experience."

Newcastle federal MP Sharon Claydon said violence against women across Australia needed to be addressed.

"Today in Australia if you're a woman you are more likely to experience sexual assault than you are to be a smoker," she said.

"Women are no safer now. In fact, it's worse. It is much worse. What did we learn through the pandemic? Massive increase in first time violence in relationships, and an increase in the severity of the violence if you are already in a violent relationship.

"Crisis accommodation is full. Now, there is no where for those women to move to, there is not a single affordable property in Newcastle for you to move into. So women are now choosing to remain in the violent relationship because they know full well they don't have anywhere safe to move to or they don't have anywhere to take their kids."

She believes the current generation are taking a new stance for gender equality.

"There is an amazing generation of women that are coming up behind me now who are so determined, who just say that words are cheap. If you don't start delivering, we are going to call you out. We are going to call out everything you say."

State member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said gender equality needs to be taught from primary school.

"You do have to start somewhere and I think in terms of kids it's a very good place to start. I think quite often it is the males and the boys that need to be educated on equality for women and learn that we're all the same... it is something that I will certainly be enquiring about," he said.

The event gave survivors and allies the opportunity to speak about their experience of sexual assault and domestic violence as a way to inspire others to make a change in the community.

What Were You Wearing? volunteer Lisa Richmond said all genders were invited to celebrate and break the bias with live music and guest speakers.

"Today we are here to break the bias. The bias of being a survivor of assault and violence, the bias of the gender pay gap, the bias of women in the workplace, the bias of women in the home, the bias that we should shut up, show up and smile," she said.

Ms Richmond is hopeful gender equality will improve as more women speak out against the inequality they face.

"Recently we have seen a change, through brave and amazing women such as Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame. No longer will we be silent. No longer will we be used, taken advantage of or sit by while our male counterparts earn more money, respect and excuses to get away with sexist or abusive behaviour," she said.

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