The Federal Government will target teen boys through a new early intervention program to end gender-based violence.
The initiative will boost support services for 12 to 18-year-old boys who’ve experienced family and domestic violence, “and who are using or at risk of using family, domestic or sexual violence.”
Participants will be offered trauma-informed and “culturally safe” services, including one-on-one counselling.
The trial will be rolled out across metropolitan, regional, and remote locations from early next year.
Intervention
The Government has a 10-year plan to end violence against women and children.
One of its goals is to create “opportunities to support people who have used violence, or are at risk of using violence, to change their behaviours”.
A study of adolescent family violence by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety found 89% of young people who had used violence had also experienced child abuse.
New trial
Boys and young men aged 12 to 18 who have perpetrated domestic violence, or are at risk of doing so, will be eligible for the ‘Supporting Adolescent Boys Trial’.
It will target young people who have had “adverse childhood experiences”, such as family and domestic violence.
Specialist organisations will run the intervention programs at 12 metropolitan, regional, and remote sites.
More sites are expected to be included in the program next year.
Programs will involve one-on-one counselling sessions, youth mentoring, and developing safety plans for each person.
Each teenager is expected to attend intervention programs for 6-12 months.
The Government has set aside $23 million in funding for the trial over three years.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said there are currently only “limited and inconsistent services” designed to support young people who could potentially develop violent behaviour.
Response
Domestic Violence Action Centre in the Queensland city of Ipswich, west of Brisbane, is one of 12 sites trialling the program.
CEO Amie Carrington said she hopes it will help teenage boys “recover and heal from their experiences of domestic and family violence, learn new skills and knowledge to build safe and positive relationships in their life as they grow into young men.”
