The Men and Family Centre has been running Men’s Behaviour Change Programs since 1993 and was one of the six original programs that gained Registration in 2014 when NSW Dept of Justice introduced Minimum Standards for men’s behaviour change program (MBCP) work. The Centre is now one of 18 Registered organisations who meet the NSW Dept of Communities and Justice (DCJ) NSW Practice Standards and Compliance Framework.
The Men and Family Centre has a team of highly trained specialist staff who work across Primary Prevention, Early Intervention and Behaviour Change response programs to reduce the use of domestic, family and sexualised violence against current and former partners and children. Our Men’s Behaviour Change Programs operate out of Lismore and Tweed Heads. We also run an all-genders group in Lismore called ARC Rainbow and will commence an early intervention group program Caring Dads in 2026 across the Lismore, Richmond Valley and Ballina Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Our work is trauma informed and questions traditional masculinities that are often based on concepts of status, power, strength, avoidance of emotional expression, ownership and control. Our aim is to foster growth, self-responsibility, awareness and accountability for all those who participate in our programs in order to support safer healthier relationships and families. We also work with current and former partners of the people in our programs to offer support, information and referrals.
Our work is guided by our Collective Ethics, the NSW Practice Standards for Men’s Domestic Violence Behaviour Change Programs, a gender transformative framework and the Our Watch Change the Story Framework.
Each of these approaches makes clear that a core driver of violence within families is gender inequity and intersecting systems of power that create a social context where:
- Violence and disrespect towards intimate partners is condoned
- Men predominantly control decision-making and women’s independence and autonomy is limited
- Masculinity and femininity is understood through limiting stereotypes, and
- Relations among male peers support aggression.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people these drivers are compounded by their experiences of intergenerational trauma and the ongoing impacts caused by colonialism.
Violence is preventable by challenging these norms, promoting gender equity and addressing the intersecting systems of power that sustain prejudice, discrimination and inequality. When violence has occurred, we give highest priority to the safety of those who have been harmed, and work to create accountability, healing and safety with the user of violence.
The Men and Family Centre is funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
