Critical court-ordered men’s counselling program put on ice

A critical court-ordered men’s counselling program, used by more than 750 family violence offenders across the state – including more than 100 in Ballarat – has been sensationally halted.

A critical court-ordered men’s counselling program, used by more than 750 family violence offenders across Victoria – including more than 100 in Ballarat – has been sensationally halted, in a move slammed by domestic violence advocates.

Just hours after the Prime Minister and state premiers met on Wednesday to discuss solutions to Australia’s domestic violence crisis, the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria (MCV) confirmed its key men’s counselling program for family violence perpetrators would stop as of June 30.

The court said this was because the program wasn’t able to be used by LGBTQI+ and Indigenous offenders.

It said funding would be pulled from current providers, who would not be able to take on any new participants, before it would eventually be redirected to others in a major overhaul.

But domestic violence advocates say the court’s decision to ditch the current counselling program has left “a massive cloud” hanging over the court orders process and there should have been more consultation.

The move will strip funding from key services in Ballarat, as the devastated regional community demands action on violence against women following three local women being killed in recent months.

The move will strip funding from Ballarat, where residents recently took part in the No More: National Rally Against Violence. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Jacinta Allan on Thursday said it was her expectation the programs would be continued, adding she “absolutely” understood the fears raised by domestic violence advocates.

The Premier said Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes was having conversations with both the Magistrates’ Court and program providers to ensure the programs were continued.

“We know these sorts of programs absolutely have to be part of the architecture we have,” she said.

“There needs to be a continuation of these programs. It’s critically important that we do everything we can to both address and support victims of violence.”

Ms Allan said the program closures was a decision made by the courts and hadn’t come as a result of budgetary pressures.

“I want to make it clear from the outset that this hasn’t come about from any funding changes,” she said.

“The funding that has been provided to the Magistrates’ Court for these men’s behavioural change programs … remains.

“What has changed is decisions taken by the Magistrates’ Court to look at changing program providers to strengthen the programs that are addressing men’s behavioural change.

“We do expect to see a continuation of these programs.”

The programs are expected to end on June 30. It is unclear whether a resolution will be reached and new programs up and running by July 1.

“My very strong preference is there not be a lag but these are decisions that are taken by the Magistrates’ Court,” she said.

Thousands gathered at the State Library for the national rally against gender based violence. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

CEO of Child and Family Services (CAFS) Ballarat Wendy Sturgess said she was told on April 18 that their funding under the MCV program would not be extended and they would cease taking new referrals from June 30.

“There is a great deal of anxiety and stress in our community right now,” she said.

“We believe this decision to close these critical services and withdraw the funding is shortsighted.”

She called for the decision to be “reversed immediately”.

Ms Sturgess said she was surprised to hear that the funds would be redirected to develop programs for marginalised groups.

“Why wouldn’t existing providers be included in a co- design approach?” she said.

“CAFS has strong experience working with the queer community – we would have a lot to offer.”

Domestic violence advocates say the court’s decision to ditch the current counselling program has left ‘a massive cloud’ hanging over the court orders process.

CEO of No To Violence Phillip Ripper said he had been alarmed by the lack of consultation and was “deeply concerned” that funding to key Ballarat services was being stripped in the midst of a family violence crisis.

“There is a massive cloud hanging over the whole ­system of court orders for men who use family violence in Victoria,” he said.

“This news came just 10 weeks before contracts were due to be renewed and results in approximately $500,000 in annual funding being stripped from a CAFS in Ballarat at a time when the local community is reeling from a spate of violence against women.”

Mr Ripper said 120 men using family violence in Ballarat were at risk of being taken out of view each year if a new provider was not urgently identified in the area.

“That’s at least, if not more than, 120 victim-survivors possibly placed at higher levels of risk,” he said.

Mr Ripper acknowledged that the court was aiming to reallocate the existing ­funding. “However we lack any confidence that suitable alternative programs will be in place from 1 July,” he said.

It comes as justice sources said the courts were bracing for major funding cuts in next week’s budget.

“In the context of shrinking government services due to funding pressures, we’re expecting the budget to cut other programs,” one senior court source said. “The money pot is getting smaller.”

In a statement to the Herald Sun, the MCV said it had “made the difficult decision to not extend the current program” due to its restrictive eligibility criteria, which ­excludes culturally diverse, LGBTQI+ and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ­offenders. It noted just four per cent of men slapped with a final ­Family Violence Intervention Orders received a counselling order. And just half of them complete it.

“The existing program is unable to deliver at the scale required to best support behaviour change where it is most needed,” the statement read.

The court said “transition arrangements” would be provided to services under the current program.

A government spokeswoman said Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes would meet with program providers to discuss the shift. She said no funding cuts had been made for the provision of these services.

“Men’s behaviour change programs are an important way to help perpetrators take responsibility for their behaviour and make changes to improve the safety of the women and children in their lives,” she said.