Anti-family violence groups call for the Government to restore funding for men's behaviour programs

Updated

Anti-family violence service providers have called on the Federal Government to reinstate $2.4 million of funding that is set to be cut from the sector at the end of June.

The money is provided as grants for specialised family violence programs but the scheme was abolished in last year's budget.

A fortnight ago, after Rosie Batty was named Australian of the Year, Prime Minister Tony Abbott pledged to take action this year to tackle the issue of family violence.

No To Violence, the Victorian peak body for organisations that work with men to end their violent behaviour towards family members, is among those calling for funding cuts to be reversed.

Its chief Rodney Vlais, who co-ordinates men's behaviour change programs across the state, said the cuts undermined the Government's rhetoric.

"By recognising this, [governments] really need to see this as an opportunity to put more money into addressing the source of the problem," Mr Vlais said.

The programs are funded primarily by the Victorian Government but federal funding is being used in an effort to reduce long waiting lists.

Mr Vlais said the funding cut would have a $300,000 affect on men's behaviour change programs.

"I've certainly been made aware recently of some large programs that either have needed to close their books to new referrals or are in a position where they'll have to do that very soon," he said.

"Two programs [said] it now takes at least two months once a man has been referred or referred himself to the program before he can even have that first initial, vital appointment."

Mr Vlais said he was extremely concerned the funding cut would drive waiting lists up even further.

Program 'changed the lives' of abuser and his family

Melbourne man Rod Beckham psychologically abused his wife for 15 years through aggressive and oppressive behaviour.

Mr Beckham said he sought help from a men's behaviour change program when a neighbour told his wife she thought she had heard her being murdered.

"I care about my wife and kids and I didn't want to lose them," Mr Beckham said.

The money needs to be put into these programs so we can make a better society and people can make themselves better people. Rod Beckham, reformed abuser

He enrolled in a three-month behaviour change program which taught him about the cycles of violence and made it clear what he was doing to his wife.

"Once I could see that, and knew that I wasn't the only person in the world who was causing these things to happen, I knew there was a way out," Mr Beckham said.

His wife Julieanne Beckham said the program had changed their lives.

"All of us feel freer, remarkably much more free. Alive," she said.

Mr Beckham said he was concerned other men would not be able to access the same help under the federal funding cuts.

"Money's got to be put into this to save lives," he said.

"A woman a week is being killed in these situations and children are being murdered - it's just horrendous.

"The money needs to be put into these programs so we can make a better society and people can make themselves better people."

Social Services Minister Scott Morrison has been contacted for comment.

Topics: domestic-violence, child-abuse, federal-government, vic, canberra-2600

First posted