Activating positive change from within
Over the last 25 years, Anglicare Victoria’s (AV’s) commitment to preventing harm and reducing family violence has helped it grow to become one of the state’s leading providers of the Men’s Behaviour Change program.
AV’s program works with men to end violence and other problematic behaviours in the family home. Run over 20 weeks, the group-based program teaches men to stop using abusive and controlling behaviours and understand what it is like from the perspective of their partners and children. During the program, they are empowered with skills that improve their sense of self and help them to become better partners and better fathers.
“The Men’s Behaviour Change program was a response to the number of women and children seeking counselling support because of family violence,” says Jim Allen, AV Advanced Practice Leader, The Orange Door.
While the first Men’s Behaviour Change program operated before AV was formed, in its early years AV embraced the program and expanded it to meet the urgent needs of the community. Until 2005 the program received no government funding, and it was only through AV’s commitment to reducing family violence that the program continued to grow. AV now works with 10 times more men each year than it did in the early days of the program.
Now available to men in communities across Victoria, as well as men in the Corrections system and a Chinese Men’s group, the Men’s Behaviour Change program has helped to create positive change for men and their families, and made significant inroads to breaking the cycle of family violence.
“As the Men’s Behaviour Change program moves into the future, we are exploring more evidence-based models to ensure sustainable change and to create safety for the community – especially women and children. The future will see an amalgamation of group and individual interventions,” says Erin Foot, AV Program Manager, Inner and Outer East Family Violence.
Breaking the cycle of violence
“After appearing in court, I was recommended to contact the Men's Behaviour Change Program. Since finishing the course, I have reflected a lot on my use of violence in the home. I can see it is a cycle. I have learned different ways of handling conflicts and changed my way of thinking and acting. I need to focus on myself rather than controlling Mary's way of doing things, I do not ever want to use physical violence again."
