ENGAGE is for men over 18 who are at court for an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order application or a Domestic Violence (“ADVO”) charge. Participants can also come from recommendations and/or requirements with NSW Community Corrections.
ENGAGE is a brief voluntary intervention for perpetrators of intimate partner violence. ENGAGE is free and includes a six hour workshop and referrals to support services as required.
ENGAGE engages persons earlier following an initial domestic violence offence or incident, offers opportunities for referrals to support services and encourages program readiness for longer term behaviour change interventions.
Who is eligible?
ENGAGE is for males over 18 years of age who are at court for:
– an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order and/or
– a domestic violence charge or
– are referred by Community Corrections where they are pre-sentence, or post sentence and not under supervision.
What is involved in the ENAGAGE Program?
ENGAGE includes a free six-hour group or specialised workshop based on cognitive behaviour therapy and strength-based therapy that provides participants with information and skills to help them better manage stress, identify abusive behaviours, and make positive changes in their lives. Delivered by NGOs registered to deliver Men’s Behaviour Change Programs (MBCP), skilled facilitators cover six modules during the workshop, outlined below:
COPING: Managing emotions, distress tolerance
CARING: Healthy lifestyles
CHANGE: Identifying abuse, changing behaviour
COMMUNICATION: Skills, assumptions, judgements
COMMUNICATION: Skills, assumptions, judgements
CHOICES: Action planning
CONNECTION: Family, community, friends
What happens in workshops?
Participants get support and information to help manage stress, improve communication in relationships and develop a healthier lifestyle. Workshops also include information on legal issues specific to domestic violence and ADVOs.
ENGAGE group workshops are held on a Saturday in a 6 hour session. Individual sessions can be held on week days or week nights.
A certificate is presented on completion of the workshop and can be submitted to the court or to agencies to demonstrate efforts to make positive changes.