Activity details
Providing one-on-one support to individuals who are not suited for the Men’s Behaviour Change Program group session model (for example due to mental health conditions, cognitive disabilities, and behaviour management issues) through First Step Legal, a Community Legal Centre working with people who perpetrate family violence.
This activity is part of a broader activity to deliver timely services to people who use violence, keeping them in view, identifying and managing risk they pose to victim-survivors, and supporting attitudinal and behaviour change.
Implementation progress update
First Step Legal is accepting referrals to provide tailored, individual support to male perpetrators of family violence who are experiencing complex, intersecting needs and are not suited for its Men’s Behaviour Change Programs (MBCP). The service is available to clients via priority referral pathways, specifically through First Step Legal’s Health Justice Partners including Better Health Network, Meli, Anglicare and Gateway Health.
First Step Legal explored new opportunities to deliver legal education modules in 2024. Such opportunities included expanding service delivery to additional MBCP providers, including new partners Gateway Health (in rural Victoria) and Windana (in St Kilda). In late 2024, First Step Legal trialled delivering legal education modules to men on MBCP waitlists to establish an earlier intervention opportunity. First Step Legal also continue to liaise with national peak violence prevention bodies to identify new opportunities to partner with MBCP providers.
In early 2024, First Step Legal finalised the design of the Safety, Wellbeing and Accountability Program's (SWAP), a new pilot legal assistance program for men appearing at Melbourne Magistrates' Court with criminal matters relating to their violence. SWAP aims to bridge therapeutic and referral pathway service gaps within existing court programs to minimise men's risk of reoffending and promote the safety of victim survivors. The pilot commenced in late 2024.
For more information see Legal services - First Step and Perpetrator Accountability Project First Step Legal.
More information
- Learn about the National Plan to End Violence against women and children 2022-2032.
- Read the First Action Plan 2023-2027.
- Browse the First Action Plan 2023-2027 Activities Addendum update.