Support for men who use violence

There is support available for men who use violence to change their controlling and abusive behaviour. 

Connecting with a service or participating in a behaviour change program can be an important starting point in the journey to respectful and violence-free relationships.

Men’s Referral Service

The Men’s Referral Service is a confidential support service for men who have been or are behaving abusively. It takes strength and courage to admit to using violence or control. This is the first step towards changing your behaviour and being the best man, partner, spouse or family member you can be.

The Men’s Referral Service can have a conversation with you, help you with some short-term tactics, and put you in touch with supports that can help you along your journey. 

Men's Behaviour Change Programs (MBCPs)

Men’s Behaviour Change Programs (MBCPs) are mostly group-based programs that support men who have used abusive and controlling behaviours towards their partners or family members to change their behaviour and build healthy and respectful relationships. 

MBCPs work with men to develop strategies and skills to help them be accountable for their actions, recognise their violent behaviour and work towards non-abusive relationships.

How to refer

There are a number of ways that people enter into a men’s behaviour change program. Some men self-refer by contacting the Men’s Referral Service or MBCP provider directly, or are referred by a family violence service or healthcare professional. Stopping family violence is about a lot more than managing anger, which is why men who use violence are encouraged to participate in a men’s behaviour change group and not an anger management group.

What to expect

After being referred to a program there is an intake and assessment process, which usually includes an interview with an experienced men’s behaviour change worker. In the interview, the worker will have a chat and explain the requirements for joining in the program and establish expectations around your participation and what you can get out of it. This interview will also help the worker assess any risks or safety issues relating to your participation in the program.

Below is a list of registered service providers of men’s behaviour change programs. Click on the program name to find out more about the group that is delivered in your region.

Counselling, support and resources

LGBTQI communities

• ACON
  Say It Out Loud is an online platform on sexual, domestic and family violence designed specifically for LGBTQ+ people. The website includes information for people for LGBTQ+ who are concerned about their use of abuse, and a service finder for people seeking support, including support to change their behaviours. 

• Proud Partners
  Proud Partners is a group program for anyone in the LGBTQI community who is concerned about their behaviours in a relationship, such as a lack of respect, controlling behaviours, or aggression. ACON runs this program once a year and it is facilitated by trained LGBTQI professionals. If you would like to be contacted when ACON next runs this program or for more information, you can email healthyrelationships@acon.org.au or follow Say It Out Loud and ACON’s Facebook page for information about the next group.

• Q Life 
  Q Life is a phone helpline and webchat providing information, referrals, support and advocacy. Specially trained volunteers and staff who identify as LGBTIQA+.
  3pm to Midnight, 7 days a week
  Phone: 1800 184 527

• The Gender Centre
  The Gender Centre provide a range of services including case management, telephone support and community outreach for transgender and gender questioning people.
  Phone: (02) 9519 7599
  Email: reception@gendercentre.org.au

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities

• Brother to Brother  
  Brother to Brother is a 24-hour crisis line for Aboriginal men staffed by Aboriginal men. The culturally-safe service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
  Phone: 1800 435 799
  dardimunwurro.com.au/contact-us 

• Education Centre Against Violence - Strong Aboriginal Men
  Aboriginal men connecting and standing strong against Domestic Family Violence and Child Sexual Assault. Strong Aboriginal Men (SAM) is a series of workshops delivered by Aboriginal men to Aboriginal men, talking in a safe way about the trauma associated with domestic family violence and child sexual assault. It is an opportunity to learn, change and grow for all our mob.
  Service providers or people working with community can contact the ECAV Aboriginal Programs team for more information about local delivery of the Strong Aboriginal Men program.
  NSW Health Education Centre Against Violence
  Phone: (02) 9840 3735  
  To request training in your area, please go to www.ecav.health.nsw.gov.au/courses/ and click on ‘Requesting ECAV Training’ 

Domestic and Family Violence and Parenting

• Central Coast Family Centre - Caring Dads
  Some men have attitudes and behaviours towards their partners and family members which have a detrimental impact on their families and children. Caring Dads is a group program for men who want to improve their parenting and be better fathers. 
  This is a 17 week group program for men who have used some form of domestic violence and abuse towards a family member, are concerned about the effects of their behaviours on their children and hope to repair the harm done by working towards becoming safer and building trust with their families.
  Phone: (02) 4356 2600
  Email: ccfc@catholiccaredbb.org.au

• Parenting After Separation - Focus on Kids
  Relationships Australia
  Parenting after Separation is a group for parents and carers who want to learn more about how they can best support their child through the process of family separation. The group will help you to learn more about managing your ongoing relationship with a former partner and to reduce conflict, whilst supporting your children.
  https://www.relationshipsnsw.org.au/support-services/parenting-after-separation-focus-on-kids/

• MensLine Australia
  MensLine Australia is the national telephone support, information and referral service for men with family and relationship concerns. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. MensLine Australia can also provide referrals to face-to-face counselling and support services.
  Phone: 1300 78 99 78
  mensline.org.au

• Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Strategy Program 
  The IDFVS program provides women and children with support to escape and recover from violence and abuse. Support is provided through ongoing practical and emotional support for victims living through the abuse and for victims who have escaped the abuser. 
  The program also works with the person who has used violence, as long as it doesn’t compromise the safety and wellbeing of victims and other family members.

Court and Legal resources

• Avow - a resource for people attending court for a domestic violence matter
  

Avow is a free mobile phone app for people in NSW who have an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) or a domestic violence charge. Avow information, planning tool and tips can help users better understand and comply with their ADVO conditions and prepare for court. The app means users can find their ADVO and court information directly from their mobile phone device and read about the court process, the consequences of breaching an ADVO, and use the Avow planning tool to comply with their order.
Avow can be downloaded on your mobile phone from the App Store or Google play.

• LawAccess NSW
  LawAccess NSW is a free telephone helpline that provides legal information, referrals and in some cases, advice for people who have a legal problem in NSW.
  The ‘Representing Yourself’ section on the website has a useful guide to responding to an AVO.
  Phone: 1300 888 529
  www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au

• Legal Aid NSW
  Legal Aid NSW can help victims of domestic violence with their legal and social needs. Legal Aid NSW can help clients better understand their legal problems and provides free legal advice, casework assistance in a range of legal matters including apprehended domestic violence orders, family law and care and protection matters.
  Phone: (02) 9219 6300 (Domestic Violence Unit)
  www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/family-law/domestic-violence-unit

• Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT
  Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) provides legal advice and representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in criminal law, family law and children’s care and protection law. They also assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and children through representation in court, advice and information, and referral to further support services.
  Phone: 1800 765 767
  alsnswact.org.au
  Find your local ALS service.

Accommodation

• Link2home Homelessness Information Line
  Link2home Homelessness Information Line is a state-wide telephone service providing information, assessment and referral to specialist homelessness services, temporary accommodation and other appropriate services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
  Open 24/7
  Phone: 1800 152 152

• Fixed Address, Kempsey Families Inc.
  Kempsey, Nambucca Valley, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie.
  Fixed Address is a targeted program for men who have used domestic or family violence in their present or past relationships who are at risk of exclusion from the family home due to their violence. It involves prevention work, early intervention and a crisis response and will provide the link to case management, transitional housing and access points to support services to support men on their journey to non-violence.
  Men seeking to change their violent behaviour can access the program directly, or be referred by external agencies, through court, partners or family.
  
  Fixed Address Coordinator
  Phone: 0437 699 108
  Email: fixedaddress@kempseyfamilies.org.au