Men Against Violence: Engaging men and boys in prevention of family violence.

ISSUES ADDRESSED: Discussion of family violence is important but many men and boys struggle to engage with the topic. Primary prevention approaches focus on communicating with and educating the population, including men and boys, in the areas of healthy relationships, gender and violence. There can be both barriers to and also gains from these interventions. This paper describes a project implemented in Geraldton, Western Australia, and discusses what has been effective and ineffective during the project. METHODS: The 'Men Against Violence' project targeted men and boys through local sporting clubs in the City of Greater Geraldton, in the Midwest region of Western Australia, through the use of face to face education, community radio and television interviews and other appropriate engagement strategies. 'Men Against Violence' events were held to connect with local male community members and address the role men can have in family violence prevention. RESULTS: We describe the three key engagement activities, working with the local Australian Rules football league, state-league basketball team and a local high school Aboriginal football academy. These strategies provided avenues for contact with and the education of men and boys aged 12 years and older. CONCLUSION: Through successful partnerships with a number of local organisations, the 'Men Against Violence' project saw a high level of engagement with local men. The project also gained strong community support, with pockets of resistance encountered and managed. SO WHAT: The 'Men Against Violence' project experienced highlights and barriers throughout the pilot project that can guide and inform future family violence prevention programs.

Exploring Readiness for Change: Knowledge and Attitudes towards Family Violence among Community Members and Service Providers Engaged in Primary Prevention in Regional Australia.

Community efforts at the primary prevention of family violence (FV) involve changing values, structures and norms that support gender inequality. This study examines the attitudes of a group of highly engaged community leaders and service providers involved in FV primary prevention in Geraldton, a small city in regional Western Australia. The outcomes of focus group discussions were mapped against a readiness for change model. Despite considerable involvement in discussions of FV prevention over time, the readiness level of these engaged community members for taking leadership roles in the prevention strategy were between pre-planning and preparation stages, although some individuals' understanding of the drivers of FV and readiness for implementing change was higher. Key areas for further education are the role of gender inequality as the primary driver of FV, particularly rigid gender roles and men's control of decision making, and the role of alcohol and drugs as reinforcers but not primary drivers of FV.