Successful men's behaviour change program Breathing Space is being rolled out in regional Western Australia for the first time.
Today Communicare was presented with a $1.8 million Lotterywest grant to support the two-year pilot in Port Hedland.
The Department of Communities funded the renovation of the nine units where participants will live during the program, at a cost of $3.5 million.
Breathing Space is a voluntary, men's residential behaviour change program for perpetrators of family and domestic violence. It was established in 2003 in Calista and was the first residential men's behaviour change program in the southern hemisphere. A second program was established in Maylands in 2019.
It provides an alternative to women and children fleeing or leaving their family home and instead focuses on supporting men to understand and take responsibility for their violence, anger and abuse.
Participants spend up to six months living at Breathing Space, completing an intensive therapeutic program that includes group work, individual counselling and case management. The program provides an opportunity for participants to reflect and be accountable for their behaviour and the choices they have made.
The Port Hedland program will also provide a short-stay residential crisis service for men who have received 24 or 72 hour Police Orders removing them from the family home for using violence and abuse.
The Lotterywest grant of $1,840,240 will fund Communicare to staff, manage and evaluate the trial.
The refurbishment works were funded through the Social Housing Economic Recovery Package and undertaken by GBSC Yurra, an Aboriginal-owned registered building company operating in the Pilbara and the Mid-West.
This is an example of how the McGowan Government has found another use for ageing social dwellings, ensuring they are still utilised to support the most vulnerable members of the community.
The Breathing Space program will be open to men throughout the Pilbara via self-referral or referral by local services.
The initiative commenced as one of three Vital Change Programs rolled out in the region under the Pilbara Family and Domestic Violence Network, with BHP contributing $500,000 towards the project.
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk:
"Communicare's Breathing Space program is already operating in two Perth locations and has proven to be successful in working with abusive men.
"The rate of domestic violence in the Pilbara is unacceptably high, and the funding will allow this important men's behaviour change program to be trialled and evaluated in regional WA for the first time.
"Taking men out of the family home allows women and children to stay connected with their local support networks, including schools, healthcare providers and community services.
"There is a demand for behaviour change programs for perpetrators of family and domestic violence, and this is an important step in improving support for people in regional WA."
As stated by Housing and Homelessness Minister John Carey:
"Our Government is proud to support Aboriginal owned businesses such as GBSC Yurra as part of our $2.4 billion investment in social housing and homelessness measures.
"Working with men through residential behaviour change programs is an important part of the family and domestic violence response, preventing pathways to homelessness for women and children.
"The accommodation to be used as part of the Breathing Space program is a key part of this Government's commitment to tackle the scourge of family and domestic violence in the Pilbara."
As stated by Member for Pilbara Kevin Michel:
"I'm proud the first regional Breathing Space program will be rolled out right here in Port Hedland, so that men can get the help they need to change.
"This is a significant investment by the State Government, which will not only help reduce family and domestic violence, but the drivers of homelessness in the region."
