Former police and military personnel are going into the homes of victims of domestic violence to sweep for spyware and upgrade security, under a taxpayer-funded program run by the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army is expanding the 'Safer in the Home' program, with $3.2 million from the federal government. It aims to help 495 people a year for the next three years.

Under the program, trauma-trained security experts meet with the victims of violence to talk about how the perpetrator operates and conduct a risk assessment and security audit.

The experts from Protective Group, who have backgrounds in the police force, military, security detail for visiting royals and other dignitaries and FBI covert operations training, will sweep the home and car for bugs, hidden cameras and spyware on devices, and implement security upgrades.

Initial government funding of $2.8 million for the program helped 400 victims in total between 2016 and 2019.

National figures show most victims of family violence are women and children. Gayle Correnti, who manages the national program for the Salvation Army, said it was suitable for low-risk situations.

“Historically, a lot of women have had to leave their home because they don't feel safe and they end up in homelessness,” Ms Correnti said. “This allows women who would be safe with safety upgrades to actually stay where they are, for the children’s schooling not be disrupted, and so they’re not living in fear.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Social Services said the Salvation Army funding was part of the government's Keeping Women Safe in their Homes program, which provided $18 million to nine providers over seven years.

Associate Professor Kylie Valentine, from the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW, said safe at home programs had not been evaluated comprehensively but the signs were positive.

“It’s a promising new response to domestic and family violence, in conjunction with crisis and other support but it can’t work as replacement for refuges and emergency responses," Dr Valentine said.

Sydney Women’s March will launch a campaign this week week targeting the NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Mark Speakman using the slogan #AtWhatCost. The campaign is demanding immediate action to adopt the Safe State recommendations developed by experts in the sector, such as the establishment of an independent statutory body focused on gender-based violence.

KPMG estimates the total cost of violence against women and their children in Australia at $22 billion a year - $6 billion in NSW alone.