Jesuit Social Services has published a paper in light of the Federal Government’s rapid review of evidence-based approaches to prevent gender-based violence, with recommendations and reflections informed by the organisation’s almost 50 years of practice experience and research.
The final report of the expert panel appointed to undertake the rapid review was handed down last Friday. This followed the tabling of the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission’s first report to Parliament on the progress of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.
“We’re pleased to see this work,” says Matt Tyler, Executive Director of Community and Systems Impact at Jesuit Social Services.
“These two reports and our own paper are aligned in the view that effective, evidence-based interventions can address the national crisis of gender-based violence. It is promising to see the focus moving towards engaging with men and boys on healthy masculinities and identities and violence prevention, adapting to the emerging and changing role of technology and collecting more data to address gaps in our understanding of gender-based violence.
“We welcome recommendations such as establishing a national data set focusing on the extent and nature of perpetration, and improving data on the experiences of LGBTIQA+ communities and people with disability.”
Jesuit Social Services’ paper builds on this, putting forward recommendations where more impact can be made – things like exploring in-prison behaviour change approaches, undertaking a ‘stocktake’ of existing practice approaches, and developing an evidence framework for prevention and early intervention.
“We are missing opportunities to effectively stem pathways to violence at a critical stage between universal primary prevention efforts and the criminal justice system,” says Mr Tyler. “There is huge scope to intervene early and respond to boys and men who are engaging in harmful behaviours, including violence against an intimate partner, but who are not yet coming to the attention of the justice system.”
Jesuit Social Services’ most recent Man Box 2024 report into the attitudes and behaviours of young Australian men found that almost one in three men aged 18-30 self-report the use of extreme physical or sexual violence against an intimate partner.
“These findings show the shocking prevalence of perpetration of violence, and demonstrate that we do not know enough about men who perpetrate violence,” says Mr Tyler.
“Jesuit Social Services’ ‘The Men’s Project’ works with boys and men every day to help them to lead healthy and fulfilling lives free from violence, so we are ready and willing to support the development and implementation of a national, coordinated and co-designed approach to engaging with men and boys around healthy masculinities and identities and violence prevention.”
Media enquiries – Oscar Perri, 0429 534 042 or oscar.perri@jss.org.au
