Men’s behaviour change programs
Responsible government
- Northern Territory
Fourth Action Plan actions
- Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children
- 8 Develop innovative and alternative models for victim and perpetrator support that contribute to safe healing and sustainable behaviour change.
- Improve support and service system responses
- 18 Improve access to and embed trauma-informed support for perpetrators of domestic, family and sexual violence to prevent reoffending and promote rehabilitation and treatment.
What are we doing?
The Northern Territory Government has committed $6.49 million from 2019-20 ongoing for initiatives under Action Plan 1: Changing Attitudes, Intervening Earlier and Responding Better (2018- 2021) of the Northern Territory’s Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Reduction Framework 2018- 2028 Safe, respected and free from violence. This investment includes the implementation of evidence-based and culturally appropriate men’s behaviour change programs and interventions for perpetrators, in Central Australia and the Top End of the Territory.
What have we achieved so far?
The Northern Territory Government provides $1 million in annual funding for men’s behaviour change programs. The Tangentyere Aboriginal Council in Alice Springs has been running the men’s behaviour change program since 2015. In 2018, the Northern Territory Government expanded the men’s behaviour change program to Darwin by funding a perpetrator intervention service run by CatholicCare NT.
Since 2018, 413 men have engaged in the men’s behaviour change programs in Alice Springs and Darwin and 81 have completed the program.
The men’s behaviour change programs include a partner contact support program. Since 2018, 194 women have engaged through the partner contact support program.
What is next?
- The men’s behaviour change programs is an ongoing initiative.
- An independent evaluation of the programs is expected to commence in 2021.
What difference will we make?
- Perpetrators are held accountable and connected early to responses that change their behaviours and reduce violence.
- Legislation, policy and funding models enable a responsive, high quality and accountable domestic, family and sexual violence service system.