Agencies are working hard across the nation to assist men to address their violence and abusive behaviour during these times. This page provides links to government COVID-19 restrictions and information on practice for the sector that works with men who use violence. If you need additional assistance, please contact communications@ntv.org.au.
Men’s Referral Service
The Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491) received funding from the Commonwealth Government in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic to expand support available across the country during these unprecedented times where risks and prevalence of family violence is high.
No matter where you are in Australia, No to Violence is currently delivering:
- The Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491), providing one-off counselling, de-escalation and referral to longer terms local supports such as Men’s Behaviour Change Programs.
- A brief intervention service, providing multiple counselling sessions to keep perpetrators engaged in the system whilst they await longer terms supports (i.e. due to long waiting lists as a result of physical distancing restrictions limiting service availability).
Physical distancing restrictions required for interventions
Different jurisdictions across Australia are at different points of the pandemic, which will have impacts on the way interventions are delivered. Organisations should visit their respective state government websites to ensure they have the most up to date advice.
No to Violence has been funded by the Commonwealth Government to provide Remote Working Toolkit training – evidence informed training to support get the best outcomes in interventions. More information is here.
Additional resources for practitioners
Across the pandemic, No to Violence has been working with its members and colleagues across the sector to share lessons and practice.
NSW COVID-19 Service Guidelines for perpetrator interventions
Restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in the intermittent suspension of in-person group work and case management with perpetrators of domestic and family violence (DFV) – both of which are central features of perpetrator interventions in New South Wales (NSW).
These Service Guidelines have been adapted by No to Violence from the Victorian COVID-19 response to the pandemic, for Men’s Behaviour Change Program providers in New South Wales (NSW) to support agencies to deliver a consistent approach during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
As MBCP providers in NSW gradually return to face-to-face service delivery in accordance with social distancing requirements, the health risks associated with the pandemic are still present and the location of COVID-19 hotspots are quickly changing, with the possibility of future outbreaks and restrictions.
These guidelines focus on delivering a multi-intervention service model designed to support providers to tailor responses to individual perpetrators and provide flexible options to adapt their service delivery with a blend of technology-facilitated interventions – providing continuity for users of violence and responding to the needs and risk within the constraints of their organisational context in COVID-19.
BETTER MAN
You may find yourself under increased strain under social distancing, or arguments with your family have become more common. Things you once considered small may now seem huge.
BETTER MAN is a new and confidential website that can help: http://public.betterman.org.au.
BETTER MAN aims to motivate men who are worried about their behaviour to seek help at an early stage. The website is in three modules focusing on relationships, values and communication. All modules have online messaging and feedback tailored according to user input.
BETTER MAN is a collaboration between the University of Melbourne and No to Violence.
Practice Bulletins
Since the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic, No to Violence and the Men’s Referral Service have used our regular drop-in sessions to maintain contact and support with sector workers during COVID-19, across the nation. The drop-in sessions have acted as a catalyst to share ideas and knowledge of the sector to assist and support everyone working to end men’s use of violence – we have developed a number of Practice Bulletins:
Practice Bulletin 1 (24 March 2020) – Advice around closure of Men’s Behaviour Change Programs
Practice Bulletin 2 (9 April 2020) – Adjusting to lock down, observed behaviours and telephone engagement during a pandemic
Practice Bulletin 3 (17 April 2020) – Gambling and the impact of, and responses to, COVID-19 on the broader domestic and family violence sector
Practice Bulletin 4 (1 May 2020) – Children and fathering, and elder abuse as well as a practice note on fathering.
Practice Bulletin 5 (8 May 2020) – Measuring outcomes and suicide risk during pandemic.
Practice Bulletin 6 (16 May 2020) – Impact of COVID-19 on LGBTIQA+ communities, and family law.
Practice Bulletin 7 (22 May 2020) – Cumulative impact of natural disasters and COVID-19, mental health and counselling, disability.
Practice Bulletin 8 (19 June 2020) – Self care and managing expectations, supervision and online service delivery.
Practice Bulletin 9 (25 May 2020) – Women’s services’ experience of COVID-19.
Practice Bulletin 10 (1 June 2020) – Summary of drop-ins from sector practitioners and online abuse
Practice Bulletin 11 (8 June 2020) – Coercive control support and further training.
Practice Bulletin 12 (15 June 2020) – with Christine Craik, President of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Practice Bulletin 14 (2020) – General program updates
Practice Bulletin 15 (2020) – Gender and Disaster Pod and Information Sharing
Practice Bulletin 16 (2020) – Tech Facilitated Interventions and ANROWS Knowledge Translation
Practice Bulletin 17 (2020) – Remote Working Toolkit and Family Safety Contact Work
Practice Bulletin 18 (2020) Animal abuse and domestic and family violence (DFV)
First Nations Practice Bulletins
Since the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic, No to Violence and the Men’s Referral Service have used drop-in sessions every Wednesday to maintain contact and support with sector workers. These resources are created for those working with First Nations.
Community of Practice Bulletins
Since the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic, No to Violence and the Men’s Referral Service have used our regular drop-in sessions to maintain contact and support with sector workers.
Community of Practice Bulletin 1 (15 April 2020) – Contacting the affected family members, risk management for children, MARAM and communication with MBCP facilitators.
Community of Practice Bulletin 2 (27 April 2020) – Administrative changes to practice, consideration of practice changes that might be beneficial to continue post COVID-19, and updates to MBCPs.
Community of Practice Bulletin 3 (12 May 2020) – Summary of ANROWS research, Family Safety Advocacy work.
MARAM Practice Bulletins (Victoria)
Since the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic, No to Violence has worked closely with Family Safety Victoria and other sector organisations to develop practice guidance for the family violence services
MARAM Practice Guide – Practice Note Update: Minimum response to victim survivors during COVID-19 period
MARAM Practice Guide – Practice Note Update: Specialist perpetrator behaviour change services minimum response to perpetrators during coronavirus (COVID-19) period
MARAM Practice Guide – Practice Note Update: Tier 2/3 services supporting responses to victim survivors and perpetrators during coronavirus (COVID-19) period
MARAM Practice Guide – Practice Note Update: Resource for working with adolescents using family violence and their families, during coronavirus (COVID-19) period
Legal referrals during COVID-19 for people experiencing and using family violence (Victoria)
Victorian Legal Aid has developed fact sheets for family violence practitioners making legal referrals during COVID-19 for people experiencing and using family violence.
Legal referrals during Covid-19 for respondents (PDF)
Legal referrals during Covid-19 for clients experiencing family violence (PDF)
