Australia moves to tighten rules on men's behaviour change programs

Federal, state and territory women’s ministers are meeting to set nationwide standards that would tighten regulation of men’s behaviour change programs by year-end.

Women’s ministers from the federal, state and territory governments will convene online to finalise national standards for men’s behaviour change programmes, targeting implementation before the end of the year. The draft rules would obligate providers to perform risk assessments and ensure that victims and children can access support after sessions. Services vary from brief school-based workshops to extensive programmes for men who have committed domestic abuse.

Stakeholders including Samuel Ware of Jesuit Social Services Men’s Project and Amanda Goldstein of Relationships Australia Victoria praised the move but stressed that without a substantial boost in funding the sector cannot meet demand. Federal Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the standards are essential for accountability and for shifting focus from post-harm response to proactive engagement with violent men. An open letter from 13 women’s and violence-prevention groups, signed by former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, called for urgent, large-scale investment in frontline services.