Outcome four: Perpetrators are held accountable and connected early to responses that change their behaviours and reduce violence

The Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities (the Department) funds Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation to operate a men’s behaviour change program in Central Australia. The funding is provided through a two-year funding agreement totalling $1 million.

In 2018 the Department doubled the number of perpetrator programs it funds with the commencement of a $1 million, two-year funding agreement for CatholicCare NT to deliver a perpetrator program in Darwin.

Perpetrator Intervention

Service system development

All offenders convicted of a domestic, family or sexual violence related offence are assessed in accordance with the Offender Management Framework.

All inmates are assessed within six weeks and a treatment pathway is determined post the Program Eligibility Screen. This is applied to all and those offenders whose offence is domestic violence-specific are referred to an appropriate targeted domestic violence program in accordance with their criminogenic risks and needs.

On track / ongoing

Perpetrator Intervention

Integrated service delivery and coordination

Department of the Attorney-General and Justice

Northern Territory Correctional Services:

• has developed evidence-based intervention programs for Aboriginal offenders;
• provides the Family Violence Program and the Recognising Anger, Gaining Empowerment programs specifically for family violence;
• provides the Violent Offender Treatment Program and Violent Offender Treatment Program Moderate Intensity and where required, individual treatment programs targeting violence - whilst these are not specifically for domestic violence, given the frequency of violence against family members these programs incorporate a component for domestic violence; and
• the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities and NT Correctional Services will commence a review of the perpetrator intervention system in 2021.

Perpetrator Intervention

4.2b)

Conduct an analysis of perpetrator programs to improve the effectiveness of interventions.

Department of the Attorney-General and Justice

NT Correctional Services has developed an Evaluation Framework for all its programs. A schedule for the evaluations has been developed and work is progressing subject to available resources.

Evaluation of the Family Violence Program for male offenders is due to be received mid-2019 and the evaluation of the Recognising Anger, Gaining Empowerment is due for completion mid-2020.

On track / ongoing

Perpetrator Intervention

Service system development

Align perpetrator outcomes with National Outcome Standards for Perpetrator Intervention.

NT Correctional Services Programs adhere to the National Outcome Standards for Perpetrator Interventions (NOSPI).

The programs incorporate all the NOSPI outcomes that can be included relevant to the offence, program and responsibilities/control of Corrections. Programs specifically targeting domestic violence offending behaviour, such as Recognising Anger, Gaining Empowerment, include risk management strategies and consideration of victim vulnerability factors.

All offence based treatment programs are designed to encourage an offender to recognise their offending behaviour and the impact on victims and others.

The Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities is evaluating Men’s Behaviour Change programs in Darwin and Alice Springs, expected to commence in mid-2021.

Perpetrator Intervention

Service system development

Young people in detention in the Northern Territory are provided access to respectful relationships education in a variety of ways, including through standard school education delivery and non-school education options such as Love Bites; Step Up; Balanced Choice; and the Mooditj Program.

The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) Love Bites and Love Bites Junior programs are respectful relationships programs for young people aged 11 – 17 years based on best practice standards for education and recommended by leading academics in the area of reducing violence against women.

The programs aim to equip young people with the knowledge to have respectful relationships, encourage and develop their critical thinking skills and assist them to be able to problem solve and communicate effectively.

The Step Up program delivers a coordinated case management and education program for youth. The program involves at least one parent and identifies the support needed to help the young person take responsibility for their behaviour and to stop using violence, with a focus on the young person’s relationship with their family and community.

Balanced Choice was born out of a school holiday program first trialled at a Darwin youth correctional facility in July 2014. Since then, it has evolved to include working with various school groups, adult male prisoners, government departments and other organisations. The program aims to maintain a balance of body, mind and spirit by making positive choices and using structured activities that promote physical and mental health.

The Mooditj Program is a resilience, relationships and sexual health education program designed for young Aboriginal people aged 10 – 14 years. The program uses storytelling and opportunities for discussion and learning from each other.

NT Correctional Services has an Elders Visiting Program and supports the identification, engagement and support of Aboriginal Elders to inform its policies and practices.

Elders also support Aboriginal prisoners whilst incarcerated, provide advice on program design and delivery, cross cultural training and provide advice and support to prisoner reintegration planning.

NT Correctional Services also engages with other recognised Aboriginal non-government service providers to support prisoners and deliver programs.

NT Correctional Services has representatives who engage with and attend the Domestic and Family Violence Network meetings.

Develop culturally appropriate and gender specific resources and develop a shared knowledge of interventions to support offenders to value and live in violence free relationships

NT Correctional Services works closely with the Elders from the Elders Visiting Program to develop culturally appropriate programs and appropriate support materials for Aboriginal participants in the programs.

NT Correctional Services has developed, with the support of Elders and in consultation with prisoners and clinicians, specific Aboriginal resources to support the Family Violence Program and the Recognising Anger, Gaining Empowerment Program.

Perpetrator Intervention

Prevention