Relationships Australia NSW (RANSW) has called for urgent intervention from the NSW Government to address men’s violence against women following the horrific murder of Molly Ticehurst.
RANSW CEO Elisabeth Shaw said it is critically important that domestic violence services are adequately and sustainably funded to address the growing rate of violence against women.
“My heart breaks to hear the news of yet another victim of alleged domestic violence,” Ms Shaw said.
“Our country is facing a systemic issue of men’s violence against women, and we need urgent intervention to address this issue at the core.
“We know that Men’s Behaviour Change Programs (MBCPs) can be an effective intervention to help men stop using violence in their relationships – but these programs are chronically underfunded.
“Our organisation currently has 235 men on a waitlist for our Men’s Behaviour Change Programs – these are men who want to stop using violence, but cannot access the help they need.
“In most cases, these men are waiting between 12 to 30 weeks to access our services. This is far too long, and with greater funding we wouldn’t be in this position.
“Men’s Behaviour Change Programs are not the total solution, but they do play an important part in addressing this insidious social problem.
“We need an integrated, well researched response to address the scourge of domestic violence – but we cannot do that without long-term, sustainable funding for the sector, including funding to establish evidence about what are the most effective ways forward.
“Men’s Behaviour Change Programs cannot be a one size fits all roll out either.
“We would not say that a behaviour change program would have saved Molly’s life. Some men would never put themselves forward to look at their own actions. However, for those that do, we have to seize that moment and move in fast.
“The NSW Labor Party committed to longer-term funding for the social services sector during the election, and has a strong commitment to addressing domestic violence – now is the time the Government makes good on its promise and delivers fulsome, generous funding for domestic violence services.
“We cannot keep lurching from one crisis to another. It’s time for action.”
For more information on RANSW’s MBCPs, visit www.relationshipsnsw.org.au
