Men's behavior change programs face new national rules in Australia

Australia is on the verge of establishing nationwide standards for men's behavior change programs, aiming to create a consistent framework for quality and safety across the sector. Federal, state, and territory ministers are set to discuss the implementation timeline, with the goal of finalizing these rules by the end of the year. These programs, which range from school-based sessions on respectful relationships to intensive courses for men who have abused partners or children, are considered a core component of Australia's strategy to prevent violence against women and children.

The draft standards are expected to mandate risk assessments for providers and ensure that victims and children have access to support services following program sessions. This initiative stems from a national cabinet rapid review that highlighted the importance of these programs but also noted variability in their quality and the evidence base they rely upon. While national standards were agreed upon in 2024, a specific timeline for implementation was not set, with Monash University's Gender and Family Violence Prevention Hub leading the design process.

“

[We support] national standards that set a clear national floor for victim-survivor safety, accountability, workforce quality, cultural safety and evidence.

Samuel Ware, executive director of Jesuit Social Services Men's Project, expressed support for the push for national standards, emphasizing the need for a clear national benchmark for victim-survivor safety, accountability, workforce quality, cultural safety, and evidence. "Support is not the opposite of accountability; properly designed support can make accountability real and sustainable," Ware stated, underscoring that effective behavior change requires both.

However, Ware also stressed that national standards alone are insufficient without a significant increase in funding for organizations working to end violence. He highlighted the "enormous" gap between the prevalence of men's violence and the capacity of the justice and intervention systems. The push for national standards comes as state and territory governments face pressure to boost funding for initiatives aimed at preventing and responding to violence against women and children.

“

Support is not the opposite of accountability; properly designed support can make accountability real and sustainable.