The Minns Labor Government is working to empower young men and boys to build healthier masculinities and relationships through further investment into dedicated programs in regional and rural areas.
The $700,000 investment will fund programs focusing on supporting healthy attitudes and behaviours, while also addressing the issues that can affect young people's wellbeing.
This includes childhood experiences of violence and trauma, poor mental health, social and economic hardship, alcohol and drug use and challenges with education or employment.
The funding will be split between two organisations, which were selected for their strong ties in their communities:
BackTrack Youth Works Ltd - delivering programs in Armidale to young men and boys from the Armidale Regional, Tenterfield Shire and Uralla local government areas.
The program will embed primary prevention in everyday practice as trusted adults engage with boys and young men one-on-one in mentoring, training and work, as well as group activities.
Boys to the Bush Ltd - delivering programs to young men and boys from the Albury, Dubbo Regional, Orange City, Forbes Shire, Bathurst Regional, Hilltops, Leeton Shire and Wagga Wagga City local government areas.
The program will support boys and young men through long-term, one-on-one mentoring, to address intersecting challenges they are facing, while helping them build resilience, respectful relationships, healthy boundaries and understand positive masculinity.
Both BackTack and Boys to the Bush have demonstrated experience supporting young men and boys through sustained mentoring relationships and practical support to deliver their programs locally.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government's wider work in primary prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence, with $38 million to address the underlying drivers of violence, while improving outcomes for young men and boys.
Boys and men have a key role to play in ending domestic, family and sexual violence.
The NSW Man Box survey released last year found a correlation between adherence to stereotypical attitudes towards masculinity and a range of problematic behaviours, including the perpetration of intimate partner violence.
However, the report also showed that small shifts in attitudes towards healthier masculinities are associated with lower perpetration of intimate partner violence and sexual harassment.
The focus of this program in regional, rural and remote New South Wales aims to address the higher rates of domestic, family and sexual violence in the regions, to help reduce violence against women and others, while improving the overall wellbeing of boys and young men.
The Minns Labor Government continuing work to build a safer New South Wales, and that includes supporting women and children escaping violence, with a historic $184.1 million committed in this year's Budget to increase funding for core specialist support services over the next four years.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
"Both BackTrack and Boys to the Bush programs encourage positive attitudes and normalises respectful relationships and healthy behaviours.
"It's critical that we include boys and men in our primary prevention work, support them to develop healthy attitudes towards gender equality, and recognise their important role in building communities free from violence.
"Preventing violence is a key focus for the Minns Labor Government to reduce the rates of domestic, family and sexual violence in our state.
"By investing in prevention and early intervention, we are supporting safer communities and better outcomes for young people across rural and regional New South Wales."
Independent Member for Orange Phil Donato said:
"Boys to the Bush have been mentoring boys for almost a decade across the Central West, with a track record for positively influencing the development of the next generation of regional men.
"This announcement is welcomed, and it is an investment into advancing healthy and respectful relationships."
Independent Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr said:
"Changing the behaviour of men and boys and empowering them as allies against domestic violence is essential and by taking the right steps early, we can help to prevent violence in the home before it happens.
"I've had opportunities to see the work done by Boys to the Bush and I know they do a great job in helping young men to build respect, improve relationships and develop paths to better futures so I'm delighted the group has received this valuable support from the government.
"This will be an important addition to other local primary prevention programs and presents a good opportunity to create a safer, healthier and more respectful community by changing attitudes and behaviours in a positive way."
BackTrack Youth Works Ltd CEO Marcus Watson said:
"Empowering young people to build healthy relationships can't rely on one-off messaging. It requires trust and connection over long-term support and activities to build healthier ways of relating.
"This funding opportunity allows us to continue doing the things we know will work. Additionally, it will strengthen our capabilities in this area through specialist training for our youth workers and targeted engagement with young people.
"We know that when young people feel safe, valued and connected, they are more likely to make great choices that benefit them and the whole community."
Boys to the Bush Ltd Co-Founder & CEO Adam DeMamiel said:
"This investment demonstrates the NSW Government's commitment to supporting young people through approaches that regional Australia has long recognised as effective. When young people have trusted adults in their corner, a strong sense of belonging, and access to early intervention & community-based support, outcomes improve not only for them, but also for their families and communities.
"There is no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting boys and young men, and this project will allow us to build on what we know works: trusted relationships, respect, resilience, and positive pathways for the future.
"We welcome the NSW Government's investment in prevention and look forward to helping create positive futures for young men, their families, and their communities."
Support:
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.
For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, call the Sexual Violence Helpline on 1800 424 017 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For information on Men's Behaviour Change Programs operating in your local area, contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
