$2.41m for Katherine men’s behaviour change program, govt still searching for service provider
A $2.41m program could help abusive men deal with their anger and break the cycle of domestic violence, but experts warn more of these programs are needed before a controversial legal reform ticks into effect.
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A $2.41m investment could transform abusive Katherine men back into the loving husbands, fathers, and partners their families wish them to be, but experts warn more may be needed before the end of mandatory sentencing reforms.
Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Prevention Minister Kate Worden said the three-year funding pilot would allow delivery of education programs to Katherine region men to help them understands what drives their abusive behaviour.
Ms Worden said the program would not only discuss behaviours, attitudes and beliefs, but also discuss how alcohol and drugs may contribute to family violence.
This is despite the $2.41m program yet to choose a service provider, with Ms Worden saying that critical factor was “expected to be appointed” in six months time by July.
Men’s Behaviour Change Programs are already in place in Alice Springs, Darwin and Wadeye with 172 men taking part in courses last financial year.
“These programs will support more men to be accountable for their violence and enhance the safety of women and children,” Ms Worden said.
“By focusing on people who are using violence we have a better chance of intervening earlier, rather than waiting until crisis point.”
The program was jointly funded through the 2021-2027 NT government National Partnership Agreement, which has committed $28.8m over the six-year funding agreement — an average of $4.8m a year.
Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services Justine Elliot said addressing perpetrator behaviour was crucial to eliminating violence against women and children.
“All levels of government must drive change by targeting the root causes of violence, holding people who choose to use violence to account, and stopping generational cycles of violence from repeating.”
MBCPs have been at the centre of Australia's largest ever coronial inquiry into domestic violence homicides, with Territory coroner Elizabeth Armitage suggesting culturally-informed, well-funded community programs may be the “missing piece of the puzzle” to address the disproportionate rates of abuse in the Territory.
However, internal government documents have revealed that the NT government slashed a recommended $33m five-year MBCPs funding proposal, providing only a third of the money over two years under the latest Domestic Violence Action Plan.
In a ministerial briefing Ms Worden was told that the $9.13m revised budget meant that the Darwin and Alice Springs programs could expand for two years, while Wadeye had 18 months of expanded funding.
“(But) the new MBCPs identified for establishment from year 2 have been reduced, given the single year of funding,” internal documents said.
The revised budget meant the Territory had to turn to the federal government for funding to the new trial program — but the extra $2.41m still leaves the Territory-wide program well short of the $33m Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Interagency Coordination and Reform Office proposal.
This is despite warnings that cutting funding would compromise the success of their mandatory sentencing reforms, which provided more flexibility in punishments for assaults and breaches of domestic violence orders and introduced enforced behaviour change programs.
In a ministerial briefing Ms Worden was told that reducing the recommended funding allocation for MBCPs “may be perceived by stakeholders as (an) insufficient commitment”.
“The implementation of the repeal of mandatory sentencing for domestic violence related offences is dependent on sufficient alternative MBCPs,” the briefing said.
Since 2000, almost four women a year have been killed in the Territory due to domestic violence — a homicide rate seven times higher than the national average.
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Originally published as $2.41m for Katherine men’s behaviour change program, govt still searching for service provider
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