Accountability in men’s group work

The concept of “accountability” is inherent in perpetrator intervention programs, and this workshop will explore different dimensions of accountability. The questions of "why does he choose to use violence?", "why isn’t he stopping his use of violence?” and "what should our response as a community be?" need to replace the question of
"why doesn’t she leave?".

This workshop will investigate topics including:

whether accountability means changing men’s beliefs and behaviour in order to stop their violence or managing the risk the user of violence poses to their family through monitoring and containment
the roles of both the service system and the user of violence in achieving these outcomes
what ‘accountability’ could look like in practice across different service settings
to whom men who use violence should be accountable (No to Violence, 2020, p. 23)

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday 18 October 2023
Time: 9:30am - 11:30am (AEST)
Location: Online

Learning Outcomes

Define accountability in men’s interventions.
Describe different levels of accountability
Identify strengths and challenges in systemic accountability

Who should attend

Emerging facilitators as well as intermediate and senior level who would like to refresh and update their learning.

This workshop is for perpetrator intervention services that are funded under the Department of Justice and Attorney-General Domestic and Family Violence Support Services Investment Specification.

About the facilitator

Dr Brian Sullivan

Brian completed advanced counsellor training in the USA and completed his doctorate in counselling and mental health at the College of Health and Human Services, University of Toledo, Ohio in 2000, where he researched readiness for change of court-mandated mal perpetrators of domestic violence.

While studying for his doctorate in the USA, Brian also trained in the Duluth Model of Domestic Violence Intervention. He worked intensively with court-ordered men in Ohio, using the Duluth program. Brian was instrumental in designing and developing the Master of Counselling Program at the University of Queensland where he coordinated a course in Violence issues in Counselling.

He also provided training for professionals in Domestic Violence Intervention Programs for men who perpetrate intimate partner violence, and with communities organising collaborative community responses to domestic violence.