Primary prevention is different to other kinds of interventions that address violence against women. Interventions that occur when the risk of violence is already there are called ‘early intervention’ or secondary prevention. Because the drivers of violence play out at every level of society, primary prevention activities also need to be implemented at every level of society. Prevention requires a holistic approach involving on-the-ground efforts that engage individuals and communities; whole-of-setting approaches in organisations and institutions, and change to laws and government policies.

For more information and resources about working with men who use violence, visit the No To Violence website.

For support of veterans who use violence, go to the Veterans page

Follow this link to view men’s services in Bayside Peninsula

Mapping domestic and family violence perpetrator pathways:  This website provides a broad overview of the ways in which domestic and family violence (DFV) perpetrators come into contact with agencies and services across all Australian states and territories. The state-by-state maps reveal the pathways taken by DFV perpetrators across various intervention systems.

Web of Accountability: Taken from the VicGov FV Reform Action Plan

Men’s Behaviour Change Group Work: Minimum Standards and Quality Practice Manual: A DHHS and No To Violence guide.

Opportunities for early intervention: bringing perpetrators of family violence into view The RMIT Centre for Innovative Justice report lists a range of recommendations highlighting ways the justice system can interrupt the cycle of family violence to make perpetrators more visible.

National Outcome Standards for Perpetrator Interventions: The National Outcome Standards were endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.

Men’s Family Violence Help Cards: This business card-sized resource concertinas out to nine double-sided pages filled with information to help men who use violence against their partners and families to seek help.

Men Think Safe Act Safe: This easy English book was developed by the Southern Melbourne Integrated Family Violence Partnership (IFVP) to provide information for men who use violence.  Southern Melbourne IFVP would like to acknowledge these contributors.

Integration case studies: — Kildonan UnitingCare Family Violence Intervention Program — Men’s Behaviour Change

Convicted Abusers Reflect on Their Violent Behaviour Watch this 15 minute video from The Atlantic that takes an inside look into a men’s behaviour change program.

Call Me Dad video of an Australian men’s behaviour change program

Tip sheetCulturally responsive practice with men who use violence

Strong foundations: Building on Victoria’s work to end family violence

Motivation for Change: Working with men who use violence

Convicted Abusers Reflect on Their Violent Behavior

Call Me Dad: Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence | Real Stories Full-Length Documentary

Engaging Men in the Prevention of Gender Based Violence

Interventions for perpetrators of domestic, family and sexual violence in Australia To support the growing policy focus on perpetrators of domestic, family and sexual violence, ANROWS commissioned and published 20 relevant research reports between 2018 and 2020. This paper synthesises their key findings and the recommendations arising from these findings.

Willing, capable and confident: men, masculinities and the prevention of violence against womenExamines how we can support men to engage more in actions to prevent gender-based violence.

If you are a Family Violence (FV) specialist or Child & Family Services worker and a client discloses that they have been sexually assaulted –

For information and resources about sexual assault, visit the website of Sexual Assault Services Victoria, formerly CASA Forum, and now the newly incorporated and expanded peak body for sexual assault services and harmful sexual behaviour services.

Other general information on sexual assault:

Our Watch is calling on Australia’s businesses to lead the change and stop sexual harassment at work. Everyone deserves to be safe, supported and respected at work. This means that sexual harassment, disrespect, and discrimination have no place. When you lead the change, you foster innovation and growth in your business. By creating a culture of safety and respect, you help protect your staff, your brand, and the wider community.

Positive Duty laws are in effect, which means employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent workplace sexual harassment and discrimination, rather than only responding after it occurs. Learn how to get started here

Prevent workplace sexual harassment factsheet

Actions People and Culture can take to end sexual harassment at work

Actions leaders can take to end sexual harassment at work

Actions managers can take to end sexual harassment at work

Key prevention concepts

Link between sexual harassment and gender inequality factsheet

If you need advice or support for your client you can access secondary consultations through:

  • SECASA free secondary consultation service for industry professionals who are looking for input and to discuss a situation or incident they are dealing with that is related to sexual assault and/or family violence that may be related to a patient or one of their clients.

Various sexual assault support services are available in Bayside Peninsula and across Victoria that you can refer a client to:

  • SECASA  South Eastern CASA provides a free counselling and support service to people who have experienced sexual assault either recently or in the past. The service is also available to non-offending family and friends.
  • The Royal Women’s Hospital provides a 24 hour, seven day a week service to victim/survivors of sexual assault. They offer counselling, support and advocacy for adult female and male victim/survivors of both childhood and adult sexual assault.

A Guide for Young Women – Information and support if you or a friend have been sexually assaulted  A booklet developed by Northern CASA for young women who have been sexually assaulted.

Multilingual resources about sexual assault  Factsheets compiled by Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health

Building partnerships between mental health, family violence and sexual assault services  A project report by the Victorian Government

Sexual Violence and Offering Support –General information about how to support someone who has experienced sexual violence. (1800 Respect)

Challenging misconceptions about sexual offending  Fact sheet produced on behalf of Victoria Police to address some of the common myths and misconceptions about sexual offending. (Australian Institute of Family Studies)

It All Adds Up This digital video campaign is asking men to reflect on their behaviour, so that women and girls can access public spaces freely without fear.

Someone using family violence can also use technology to harass, monitor, stalk, impersonate or make threats to control, frighten or humiliate.  Research has also shown that women and girls are subjected to very high levels of online abuse.

Clients should be alerted to the fact that their location history can be viewed in the QR check-in app installed on their phone.  They are able to remove the location history, without this impacting on the government contact tracing.  To read more and watch a ‘how to’ video, go to the VicGov website.

Other advice and options are available at WESNET’s website

1800RESPECT has information on phone apps on their website as well as information on technology and safety

  • Useful online safety checkup for your phone/tablet/computer
  • Practical e-safety checklist for women who are in FV situations
  • Women’s Technological Safety & Privacy A toolkit for women experiencing tech abuse to learn how they can increase their technology safety and privacy. (WESNET)
  • How to videos explaining how to lock down security settings for those in FV situations
  • LGBTIQ+ Learning Lounge Find out how you can play nice and stay safe online by exploring a range of topics designed for the LGBTIQ+ community.
  • Tinder Dating Safety Guide Aims to help survivors and the general population with learning about the safety features available in the Tinder Dating App and includes some of the new updates built into the Tinder app around reporting abusive and harassing behaviour and more.
  • My Safety Tool The My safety tool can assist you to understand common separation issues, connect you with services and help you plan for your safety.
  • Technology-facilitated coercive control This practice guide describes the research evidence on technology-facilitated coercive control

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