Surge in men seeking help following Clarke family murders

The number of men seeking help to stop committing domestic violence has surged after the horrific death of Hannah Clarke and her children at the hands of her estranged husband.

• Our broken system is only perpetuating family violence
• How do we end this nightmare?

The horrific murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children at the hands of her estranged husband has been a wake up call for many men across Australia.

Counselling helplines across the country are reporting a surge in calls from men since the family tragedy unfolded in a Brisbane street last month.

Rowan Baxter killed Hannah Clarke, Aaliyah, six, Laianah, four, and Trey, three, when he doused them in petrol and set their car alight.

He died shortly after stabbing himself in the abdomen with a knife following the attack.

No To Violence, a national service working directly with men who commit domestic and family violence, recorded a 25 per cent increase in calls immediately after the tragedy.

Similarly 1800 RESPECT, a national family violence counselling helpline, reports it experienced the highest ever number of calls in one day straight after the heinous crime.

Hannah Clarke with her children Trey, Laianah and Aaliyah.

NSW Domestic Violence Line recorded an 18.9 per cent increase in calls over the past week and Queensland’s phone counselling service DV Connect also recorded a surge.

“Men have told us they don’t want to be ‘that man’,” No To Violence CEO Jacqui Watt said in a statement.

The federal government announced $2.4m for men’s behavioural change programs in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia through until June 2022.

But No To Violence estimates $88.2 million is needed at a minimum to work with men to keep women and children safe across Australia.

“More men are seeking help, yet that system has a severe lack of resources. So, while the conversations around domestic and family violence are changing, there’s still a lot more work to do on the ground; to sustain the services people rely on,” Ms Watts said.

“This can only be achieved with integrated services that are adequately funded.”

The millions would go towards funding men’s intake referral services; men’s behaviour change programs; case management for men using, or at risk of using, family violence; fathering programs; and, minimum standards to make sure every man is getting best practice case management.

A rally against domestic violence following the Clarke family murders. Picture: Evan Morgan

DV Connect chief executive Rebecca O’Connor told The Australian men contacted the service specifically raising the Clarke family murder as their reason to get help.

“We have had women identifying that they would not have contacted or thought their situation was as serious had they not seen the news,” Ms O’Connor said.

“We have had individuals contact our men’s line and explicitly name the murder of Hannah, ­Laianah, Aaliyah and Trey as motivation to reach out for help.”

Queensland’s Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Di Farmer said the domestic violence services she has contact with made similar reports in the days after the murders.

“I’ve spoken with many people who work in the DFV sector and everyone has been absolutely devastated by the deaths of Hannah and her little babies,” Ms Farmer said.

“But they’ve also said that in the past few days, they’ve seen an incredible surge in calls from people asking for help – and importantly, from people asking for help to stop being violent.”

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline (13 11 14)