Making complaints about a program

Whilst respecting and valuing uniqueness amongst providers of Men's Behaviour Change Programs, NTV believes there are some Minimum Standards for men's behaviour change work. These are necessary for safety, accountability, quality assurance, providing reliable public information about Men's Behaviour Change Programs, and facilitating the safe expansion of programs.

NTV's Minimum Standards embody the policies, procedures and practices that are imperative for safe, ethical men's behaviour change work. These are the minimum necessary to ensure that men's participation in Men's Behaviour Change Programs does not increase the danger to women and children.

The NTV Management Committee has adopted a self-regulatory framework for upholding its Minimum Standards and quality in men’s behaviour change group work. Compliance with all Minimum Standards will be monitored as part of this framework. It is possible however, that instances of possible non-compliance might come to the attention of an interested party under other circumstances.

This section of our website provides information for any person or party considering making a notification regarding non-compliance with the Minimum Standards.

Who is bound by the Minimum Standards?

All providers of Men's Behaviour Change Programs wishing to be members of NTV are bound by the Minimum Standards, regardless of whether they are agencies, organisations, businesses, or sole traders. All programs aimed at facilitating or supporting men’s behaviour change, which are run by NTV members, are bound by the Minimum Standards, regardless of what they are called. Providers who are not members of NTV are not bound by the Minimum Standards.

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How can I know if the provider is complying with the Minimum Standards?

It is the responsibility of providers and NTV to ensure that providers comply with the Minimum Standards. If you have a reasonable belief that a provider is not meeting a Minimum Standard, you may inform NTV. We will then follow up the matter according to our policies and procedures.

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Who can lodge a notification?

Any individual or organisation may lodge a notification.

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Can I make an anonymous notification?

Notifications may be completely anonymous, however if you choose this, you must provide sufficient information for the Membership Review Panel to investigate the matter. If you choose anonymity, you will not be contacted by NTV about the matter.

You may also choose to be anonymous to the provider about whom a notification is being made.

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Who should I contact for further information?

In the first instance, you should contact the Manager of No To Violence.

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What will happen if I make a notification?

You will be asked to provide details on an NTV notification form. It will assist all parties if you are as specific as possible.

When NTV receives your notification form, it will refer the notification to its Membership Review Panel. The Membership Review Panel will appoint a representative to check whether there is non-compliance, by reviewing relevant policies and procedures of the provider, interviewing staff, reviewing the provider’s practice based on de-identified case notes, interviewing other stakeholders, including but not limited to, women’s services and other human service professionals (as relevant). It is possible that you will be interviewed by the representative of the Membership Review Panel as part of this process.

The representative of the Membership Review Panel will report to the Membership Review Panel and the matter will be discussed. The Panel will review the available evidence and draw upon the professional judgement of its members, current thinking and relevant research to judge whether the provider is non-compliant. The member, or a representative of the member, is welcome to put a case to the Membership Review Panel as part of this process.

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What will happen if the provider is found to be compliant?

If there is no evidence that the provider is non-compliant, the matter will lapse.

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What will happen if the provider is found to be non-compliant?

If the Membership Review Panel finds evidence that the provider has a practice that does not comply with the Minimum Standards, options depend on the reasonableness and the potential safety risk of the practice(s) in question.

If the practice in question appears to be reasonable and does not appear to increase risk, the Panel may suggest that the provider apply to the NTV Management Committee for an exemption.

If the practice in question appears to be unreasonable or potentially risky, the Panel may:

  • Immediately suspend accreditation, pending a decision by the NTV Management Committee OR
  • Grant provisional membership, pending implementation of the Minimum Standards within a specified time frame.

In cases of non-compliance, the Panel must make a recommendation to the NTV Management Committee. In some circumstances, NTV might grant an exemption from the Minimum Standard on the basis that the practice in question is reasonable and does not appear to increase risk.

In other circumstances, action when a provider does not comply with the Minimum Standards will range from support to become compliant, through to sanction. The NTV Management Committee may:

  • Accept, refuse, or revoke membership.
  • Grant provisional membership, pending implementation of the Minimum Standards within a specified time frame. 
  • Inform other relevant bodies if the matter involves breach of the law or of the professional Standards of another professional body.

NTV may also publish the names of providers whose membership has been accepted, refused, or revoked (subject to Privacy Legislation), and the basis on which providers' membership has been decided.

At present, the decision of the NTV Management Committee is final. Any entity that has had its membership revoked may reapply for membership when and if it can demonstrate that it complies with all of the Minimum Standards.

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