A GROUNDBREAKING Queensland intervention program aims to address a sharp rise in the number of young boys perpetrating family ­viol­ence against their mothers and sisters.

The 20-week intensive counselling program, ReNew, was launched this week to break the cycle of domestic ­violence. The two-year trial program has already recruited 12 boys and their mothers and will roll out in Brisbane and Ipswich.

The ReNew program will involve group sessions, family therapy and individual counselling free of charge.

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It comes as alarming figures show in the past three years more than 1500 domestic violence cases were committed by boys between 10 and 18 years.

Domestic Violence Minister Shannon Fentiman said the figures were “staggering”.

media_camera Domestic Violence Minister Shannon Fentiman.

“We know that children who use violence against their mother or a sibling are at greater risk of becoming ­domestic violence perpetrators later in their lives as adults,” Ms Fentiman said.

“This pilot program is vital if we’re going to intervene early in these children’s lives and make sure they have a more optimistic future.”

One woman who escaped an abusive marriage spoke at the launch and said she wished there was a program such as ReNew to help her sons, who were now adults, deal with their emotions at the time.

“If this kind of program had been available when my sons were young, it certainly would have taught them a range of skills to deal with what they were going through at home,” she said.

“For young men who have lived in an environment of abuse and don’t know any other way to deal with things, it’s important to see other ways of living. Something like this would have helped them cope.”

To report abuse or seek advice, call DV Connect on 1800 811 811 or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732