24 September 2026

After a horrific week in which three men were charged with domestic violence-related murder following the deaths of three women in separate incidents across NSW within 24 hours, No to Violence is urging men to seek help before violence and control escalate.

The warning comes ahead of Grand Final weekend, a period when family violence services have previously experienced increased demand.

No to Violence’s Men’s Referral Service has consistently seen an increase in men reaching out for help in the days following the AFL Grand Final.

In the days following last year’s AFL Grand Final, calls to No to Violence’s Men’s Referral Service were 56 per cent higher than its usual daily average.

No to Violence General Manager, Chris Lacey said the events of the past week should leave no doubt about the urgency of intervening earlier.

“Three women killed in separate domestic violence incidents in the space of 24 hours should stop us in our tracks. We cannot keep waiting until women and children are being terrorised in their own homes, police are at the door, or somebody is dead before we intervene,” Mr Lacey said.

Mr Lacey said the challenge was not simply recognising risk but having the services and pathways in place to act on it.

“Too often, the warning signs are already there. Families see them, communities see them and frontline services see them, but we have not built or funded the pathways needed to intervene with men before violence escalates.”

No to Violence said earlier intervention must include responding to controlling, threatening and intimidating behaviour before a family reaches crisis point, and ensuring men can be connected to specialist support before police or courts become the first meaningful response.

The organisation is also urging men to take responsibility for their behaviour this Grand Final weekend and seek help early.

“A football result does not make a man violent. Alcohol does not make a man violent. Violence, intimidation and control are choices. If you are worried about how you are behaving towards your partner or family, do not wait for things to get worse. Seek help before someone is harmed,” Mr Lacey said.

The Men’s Referral Service provides free, confidential specialist support to men concerned about their behaviour on 1300 766 491, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Men can also use No to Violence’s National Directory of Services for People Who Use Violence to find specialist support in their area, including behaviour change programs, counselling and other services.

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Media Contact: Jo Nilsson
Media & Advocacy Advisor, No to Violence
communications@ntv.org.au | 0455666492

About No to Violence   

No to Violence is the Australian peak body for organisations and individuals committed to ending men’s use of family violence.  We support specialist men’s family violence services and operate the national Men’s Referral Service, a 24/7 telephone and online counselling and referral service to link men to the support they need to get on a pathway of change and end their use of family violence.  We undertake research, training and advocacy and work with governments, employers and business to stop family violence at the source. 

Please list the Men’s Referral Service with all Domestic, Sexual and Family Violence stories: The Men’s Referral Service provides counselling and referrals for men who are concerned about their behaviour: 1300 766 491 

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