- $3.1 million over two years for three new men’s behaviour change programs in regional Western Australia
- Programs will be established in Albany, Bunbury, and Northam
The Cook Government has announced the locations for the three new men’s domestic violence behaviour change programs in regional Western Australia.
The $3.1 million commitment for services in Albany, Bunbury, and Northam is part of the $72.6 million family and domestic violence package announced by the Cook Government during last year’s 16 Days in WA campaign.
The men’s domestic violence behaviour change programs provide assistance and counselling services to men who use coercive, controlling, and abusive behaviour in their intimate and family relationships.
Importantly, the services will boost safety outcomes for victim-survivors by offering individual and group-based behaviour change programs that work directly with perpetrators to address the underlying attitudes, values, and beliefs that can lead to violence.
The establishment of the men’s behaviour change programs in the Great Southern, Southwest and Wheatbelt will address service gaps in the regions, and complement existing services offered to victim-survivors in these locations.
Since 2017, the Cook Government has invested more than $300 million to address family and domestic violence.
Any men who are concerned about their behaviour towards others, or men who are victim-survivors of family and domestic violence, can contact the Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline 1800 000 559.
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton:
“Men’s behaviour change programs are an important intervention to break the cycle of abuse.
“The Cook Government is exploring every available option to improve safety for those impacted by family and domestic violence.
“We will continue to work closely with the Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce to build on the State’s commitment to addressing what is a scourge on society – not just in Western Australia, but across the nation.”
As stated by Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens:
“I’m pleased to see that the Government is investing in behavioural change programs for the Great Southern Region, giving people the opportunity to change their ways, and to be able to access services like these closer to home.
“The need for men’s behavioural change programs has been raised with me by local family and domestic violence service providers, so I’m very pleased to see that the Government has listened and is taking action.”
