'Working with perpetrators is critical'

The Orange Door network was a key recommendation of the state's Royal Commission into Family Violence, with the Central Highlands Orange Door opening in October 2020.

Since then, the network has helped more than 6000 people including more than 2000 children and young people.

The network brings together workers from specialist family violence, child and family, Aboriginal and men's services to provide support for people experiencing family violence as well as parents and carers requiring support with the well-being and development of children and young people.

In this region the service's primary site is in Ballarat, with an access point in Bacchus Marsh and outposted services planned in Ararat, Hepburn and Golden Plains.

All 17 Orange Doors across the state are on track to be opened by the end of the year.

Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams said the Orange Door networks ensured that women and children could access to advice and support no matter where they lived.

While the state government continues to "reform the family violence system to provide better support for victim-survivors, we recognise that working with perpetrators is critical to keeping victims safe", a government spokesperson said.

It comes as a Victorian-first pilot program is providing crisis accommodation for family violence perpetrators, while allowing victim-survivors and their children to remain at home near their schools, workplaces and support networks.

The Perpetrator Accommodation Support Service (PASS) pilot program is being run by No to Violence, which supports men who perpetrate family violence to change their behaviour, along with its Men's Referral Service and The Salvation Army.

The program has assisted more than 170 people from both metropolitan and regional Victoria who are at risk of perpetrating family violence and deemed to be a serious risk within their home during the first six months of the pilot. Housed in accommodation, they undertake a two-week counselling program.

No To Violence chief executive Jacqui Watt said the program was a "big change in the system" by making male perpetrators accountable for their violent or abusive behaviour rather than victim-survivors.

"It's not about free accommodation, it's about victim safety and putting the emphasis and onus back on men as opposed to making the victim responsible for their own safety," Ms Watt told The Courier. "We're putting the onus back on the perpetrator of violence."

While there are several pathways into the program, to be eligible a male perpetrator must be legally excluded from the family home (such as through an apprehended domestic violence order) and in need of crisis accommodation. But most importantly, they must be willing to engage with qualified counselling and support services.

Since September 2020, 235 people have inquired about the program. Of those, 174 are either current or past clients - those who were not accepted did not meet all of the eligibility criteria.

"It's an important way for us to keep men in view so we know where they're at and if they're engaged in a program - either with us (the men's referral service), in a men's behaviour change group, or both," Ms Watt said.

"It's hard work, it's not a holiday. The commitment is to try to get the man to engage in his use of violence and consider alternatives."

Throughout the program, ongoing risk assessment and management is undertaken.

In addition to counselling to address violence and abusive behaviour, trained staff also help perpetrators access other support services - such as with their mental health, drugs and alcohol, transport, further counselling, employment and education.

All those that engage with the program are also provided with information about their local housing entry points and other supports.

The program was funded by the state government in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Part of a $20 million package to support victim-survivors to safely stay at home, hold perpetrators to account and provide alternate accommodation the investment included funding for the 12-month pilot of the state's first 24/7 crisis accommodation service for perpetrators.

Six months in and 14 per cent of those who have participated have agreed to be referred to a men's behavioural change program.

While not the solution for everyone and often with long waiting lists, Ms Watt said it was a positive sign that these men decided to seek further assistance. For those who were not eligible, another counselling option is the MRS' Brief Intervention Service (BIS).

A new concept to address family violence in Victoria, Ms Watt said the program was currently being evaluated - specifically how effective it is in keeping women and children safe and in terms of how supportive it is for men to make changes.

If the program were to be further expanded, Ms Watts said "it could mean that women have to flee their homes less often".

It could also mean intervention is provided earlier before the violence potentially escalates.

"If we have learned anything from some of the horrors... if we don't get in early, terrible fatalities and harm can be caused.

"So for us, this is trying to get these men to confront the fact that there's stuff that needs to be addressed earlier.

"That's all about trying to keep families safe but also turning our focus to what he's doing rather than what she has to do to keep herself safe."

With a family violence victim-survivor often dependent on the perpetrator for access to income and accommodation, supporting women to have the choice to remain safely in their homes is a priority.

Ms Watts said the program aimed to shift the burden from victim-survivors fleeing abusive and violent relationships where safe to do so, while providing accommodation options for the perpetrator.

"One of the excuses put forward by perpetrators of family violence is that they do not have an alternative place to go.

"Faced with homelessness or couch surfing, and often driven by entitlement, the perpetrator will return to the home of the victim-survivor. The pressure on victim-survivors to 'take him back' because of his risk of homelessness, even if it means compromising her safety, is profound.

"We want to work with those men who are willing to work on some change because what the evidence suggests is that often people will say 'I wish somebody had offered me that help earlier.'"

She added that it could also "improve the effectiveness of ADVOs and reduce breaches" while potentially easing the pressure on the family violence support sector and the services provided, such as refuges.

Other states and territories were considering similar models, she said, and she looked forward to sharing the results of the pilot.