Relationships Australia Canberra and Region CEO Dr Stephanie Hodson, counsellor Reuben Robinson and Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr announced the reintroduction of the Men’s Behaviour Change Program in Wagga Wagga this week. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Relationships Australia Canberra and Region has been allocated $700,000 to reintroduce the Men’s Behaviour Change Program to its Wagga facility, to combat rising domestic violence cases.
The program has been missing from the Wagga facility’s services since 2018 due to a lack of funding and available staff.
Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr has been advocating for the refunding of the program.
“Since becoming aware that these programs stopped five years ago because of a lack of funding and the departure of key staff, I have campaigned strongly in parliament for funding to resume this important service,” he said.
“I have said all along that if we are to reduce the appalling rate of family violence it is men that must change their ways, and the resumption of these programs creates a professional mechanism in which male offenders can turn away from violence and be the partners and fathers their families need them to be.
“I would like to thank the Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison, for listening to my advocacy and responding so promptly with funding to allow these very important programs to return to our region.”
The $700,000 funding will ensure the program runs for at least two years, with plans for the program to begin operating at the beginning of 2025.
Relationships Australia Canberra and Region CEO Dr Stephanie Hodson highlighted the importance of making professional interventions available for men who wanted to change their behaviour.
“Men’s behaviour change programs are vital in breaking the cycle of abuse and to protect families today as well as future generations. To end violence against women and children, specialised support and educational interventions are critical in preventing perpetrators from reoffending,” she said.
“Our team sees the impacts of domestic and family violence every day. They are looking forward to the addition of men’s behaviour change to our service offering, enhancing our ability to provide that wraparound support for the whole family.”
The manager of the program, Carla Hall said men who took part in the program would work with groups for a 16-week period to reflect on and understand their behaviours in a safe setting, while also doing individual work to work on changing those behaviours.
“Within the group men can expect to come in and start to learn what family domestic violence is, including coercive control, and recognise what behaviours they’re using that might be impacting on their relationships and their own mental wellbeing,” she explained.
“They will learn strategies and be given tools to help manage their emotions to help manage difficulties as they arise.”
Ms Hall said domestic violence didn’t just include physical harm, but coercive control as well. She said the purpose of the program was to catch concerning traits before they resulted in domestic violence.
“What we really want to be doing is capturing men at those really early stages of domestic violence,” she said.
“It might be that maybe they’re finding themselves feeling insecure and checking their partner’s phone regularly or checking their partner’s bank account or wanting control over where their partner is going and who they’re spending time with. That’s not a healthy relationship, that is part of coercive control.
“These are the behaviours that we want to be recognising, as well as the physical behaviours that we all already know and are aware of.”
The program will begin with individual outreach to prospective clients in September. For more information on the Men’s Behaviour Change Program in Wagga visit the Relationships Australia Canberra and Region website.
Loading ...
