Wednesday, 21 September 2022

Men’s behaviour change programs

Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (20:38): (2147) My adjournment is to the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, and the action I seek is for the government to initiate a pilot of a residential men’s behaviour change program based on the successful Breathing Space in Western Australia. I have had some interest in seeing what a core and cluster model might look like for perpetrators of violence as an alternative to victim-survivors having to leave their family home. I mentioned this idea to the minister during a recent meeting. Breathing Space was the first residential men’s behaviour change program in the Southern Hemisphere. It commenced operation in June 2003, so it has actually been running for nearly 20 years. Breathing Space describes itself as a specialist therapeutic intervention that provides men with up to six months of accommodation while they undertake an intensive program, including educational group work, counselling and change management in order to change their behaviour. I have had some concern about the potential for perpetrators to engage in group victimisation, but what happens in reality is that the program helps them practise new ways of relating while they are living in a complex and shared environment.

The program is divided into two stages, the core program and the transitional program. The core program is three months of intensive formal and informal supports, with a focus on risk assessment and monitoring, case management, group work, individual counselling, life skills and opportunities for behaviour change. It builds personal responsibility before participants move into the transitional program. In order to take part in the transitional program, residents need to demonstrate a consistent commitment to behaviour change. They are provided with transitional accommodation and remain engaged in therapeutic maintenance groups, case management support and a targeted plan to reintegrate into employment and longer term accommodation. Their objectives are to build accountability of perpetrators, helping them take responsibility for their violence and abuse, and teach different strategies as an alternative to violence. They work to build empathy within the perpetrator around the impacts of their abuse on family members while also providing affected family members with support.

Curtin University conducted an evaluation of Breathing Space, and it was found to be successful in reducing inward suppression, propensity for abusiveness, physical and verbal aggression and emotional instability. The model was found to create a more pervasive supportive environment, and feedback from victim-survivors was positive. Following the success of the program, the Western Australian government has now established a second residential unit.

We deliver men’s behaviour change programs in Victoria in a very limited way. Programs are oversubscribed, waitlists are long, engagement is mixed, and it has been difficult to determine if a program really works to reduce violence. The residential therapeutic model is proven to work, and I strongly believe it is worthy of a trial in Victoria to deliver lasting behavioural change for perpetrators of violence.