An Australian-first trial program is being rolled out in the ACT to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait fathers who are using, or at risk of using violence at home.
The trial Caring Dads program helps First Nations fathers better understand the impact of harmful behaviour, improve their relationships with their children and support them to engage in respectful parenting with mothers.
The program was first developed by Canadian organisation Changing Ways to support First Nations communities in Canada, with the trial program adapted for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers in Australia with the support of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, Yeddung Mura.
Yeddung Mura CEO, Priestley Obed, said the program has been specifically tailored for Indigenous fathers in Australia.
"This new program has been carefully designed, adapted, and delivered by Aboriginal facilitators to help local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers develop healthy parenting skills and strengthen their relationships with their children," Mr Obed said.
Yeddung Mura Program Facilitator and Program Manager, Ida Hanley, said the trial program is already having positive results, with participants returning "week after week" to keep working on themselves.
"The Caring Dads program helps men to be honest with themselves, build self-awareness, and ignites hope that they can be good fathers and partners," Ms Hanley said.
The ACT Government says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children continue to experience higher rates of family violence across Australia, arguing the joint investment in the trial will directly increase the safety and wellbeing of many First Nations families across the ACT.
ACT Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Marisa Paterson, said Yeddung Mura has been working closely with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Kids First Australia to adapt the program for the Australian context.
"The Yeddung Mura Caring Dads program will work with men to be accountable for their actions and provide them with the skills and support to prevent them from using violence in the future," Ms Paterson said.
Supported by $1 million in funding from the Federal Government, the ACT Government will deliver and evaluate the culturally safe and community-led trial over the next two years.
ACT Senator and Minister for Women, Katy Gallaher, said the Federal Government is proud to partner with the ACT Government and Yeddung Mura on the initiative, which "will deliver lasting benefits for First Nations families and the broader Canberra community".
"This trial is about investing in approaches that keep women and children safe, while also working directly with men to change their behaviour," Ms Gallaher said.
"By supporting Canberra's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island dads with a program that is culturally safe and community-led, we're helping to break the cycle of violence and strengthen families here in the ACT."
The trial program is funded under the National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses 2021-30, which can be used by states and territories to deliver early intervention or innovative pilot programs such as Caring Dads.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au
MensLine Australia Services are available if you are concerned about your wellbeing, relationships, and behaviour on 1300 789 978 or by visiting www.mensline.org.au
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
