Last Friday Dardi Munwurro launched their residential program for Aboriginal men using violence at the Collingwood Football Club training precinct. It was an incredible moment for our board member, Alan Thorpe, who established Dardi Munwurro 17 years ago and has since been working in Aboriginal communities all over Victoria to empower Aboriginal men to change their use of violence and lead better lives. The launch was attended by Attorney-General, Martin Pakula, several major Aboriginal family violence organisations and many people that have helped Alan achieve his vision to create positive change in Aborginal men and their communities.
The program helps address Aboriginal male offending, with an intensive residential diversion program for perpetrators of family violence, and is a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
To support the program, the Collingwood Football Club is providing three furnished three-bedroom houses which will provide accommodation for Koori men. A Koori elder will live on-site to give cultural support and guidance.
The club has also provided a permanent program facility at the Victoria Park Community Centre in Collingwood, to provide support programs as part of the Ngarra Jarranounith Place. Ngarra Jarranounith Place will support men through a range of therapeutic family violence and personal development programs.
Alan will speak at next month’s Working with Aboriginal Men and Family Violence Conference on December 7th and 8th. The groundbreaking event hosted by Kornar Winmil Yunti (KWY) with the support of No To Violence incorporating the Men’s Referral Service, is on sale now at TryBooking here.
