The 46-year-old Ararat man, who Ararat Advertiser cannot name to protect the victim's identity, appeared via video link from custody at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The police informant said the complainant called triple zero on October 3 and reported an assault by her partner on September 30.

The court heard the complainant said she had been assaulted 20 times between February and September, but this was the first chance she had to make the reports as she was 'petrified' of him and 'he had been with her every day'.

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The informant said the complainant reported the accused had covered her face, mouth and nose with his hand and squeezed her face on September 30, making her feel she would die.

The man is accused of grabbing the complainant by the throat, holding her on the bed and threatening her with a knife to the throat on August 30, while the woman's son yelled at him to stop.

The informant said police took a statement from the complainant's son who said he ran to the bedroom and grabbed a bat to try to protect his mother on one occasion.

The accused is charged with five counts of contravening a family violence intervention order and four counts of assault.

"The complainant is petrified of the accused and does not want him to get bail," the informant said.

"The complainant fears for her life... she is full of anxiety."

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Defence lawyer Scott Belcher said his client denied the family violence allegations, but admitted to yelling and screaming.

The accused's father gave evidence to the court he could live at his house on bail under strict conditions.

Mr Belcher said his client worked full time and bail conditions including a curfew and not to contact the victim could be put in place to reduce the risk.

In cross-examination, he questioned the informant about drug issues of both the complainant and the accused and confirmed the complainant made the report to police after the accused told her the relationship was finished.

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He said his client worked full-time which meant the complainant would have had time alone to make reports to police previously.

Magistrate Ron Saines said he had regard to the accused's prior criminal history and said a significant period of imprisonment would be likely if the charges were proven.

He said the evidence appeared to be contested and it could be several months before all relevant evidence was obtained.

He said compelling reasons for bail were shown by a combination of factors, including the possibility time on remand could be longer than any sentence, ongoing employment and the evidence of the accused's father.

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Mr Saines said the accused's father was a man who had 'limits on how much he is willing to tolerate in terms of future conduct'.

"I can be satisfied the parents can be trusted to report to police if bail conditions are not complied with," he said.

The accused was granted bail with a curfew, conditions he lives at his parents, not use drugs, not to contact the complainant, to comply with the intervention order and with a $2000 surety from his parents.

The man will return to court in Ararat in November.

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