Early intervention key to stopping domestic violence
Family violence incidents have soared in the region, alarming new figures show, as survivors say early intervention is key to keeping men out of jail.
Geelong support service Meli will expand its Men’s Behaviour Change program to include specific sessions for men aged 18-25.
Meli’s family safety and therapeutic services director Lisa Robinson said there had been an increase in younger men in that age bracket being referred to the program.
Family violence incidents have spiked 33 per cent across the Barwon region, which covers Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast and the Otways, from 2018 to 2023, according to the Crime Statistics Agency.
There were 1721 incidents of family violence in Greater Geelong in 2022-23.
That is a spike of 10.8 per cent from the 1590 in the previous financial year.
Survivors of domestic violence helped develop the new early intervention program, which includes topics relevant to younger offenders, such as social media influences, online gaming, addiction and pornography.
An individual affected by family violence told Meli: “Someone needs to talk to them early on and explain the process, law and encourage them to get help early so they don’t end up in jail.”
Another said men found it hard to reach out for help.
Ms Robinson said the new curriculum was more relevant to younger males who had different challenges to older men.
Partners or ex-partners are also engaged in the 20-week program.
“It’s often a young man’s first experience with the judicial system and their first time in a program like ours,” Ms Robinson said.
Ms Robinson said that the program aimed to hold men accountable for their use of violence.
Meli received $250,000 of emergency funding from Geelong Community Foundation, Anthony Costa Foundation and Dawn Wade Foundation to expand the program.