The Role of the Women's Advocate

The role of women’s advocates is integral to men’s domestic violence intervention programs. Women’s advocates are not a luxury or added extra. Their work is critical to risk assessment and management, as communication channels between the men’s program staff and victim/survivors. On one hand, the reality of the victim/survivors experiences can be conveyed to the facilitators (rather than only hearing the self-reports of the male DFV offenders). Also, the risk level and potential danger can be relayed to victim/survivors from the facilitators of men’s groups to the women’s advocated.

What the program can do and cannot do, what the program is covering each week, and the male participant’s level of engagement and responsibility can be conveyed safely to his partner/ex-partner.

Learning Outcomes

Identifying the roles and responsibilities of women's advocates.
Understanding the women's advocates work in risk assessment and management.
Developing and strengthening the relationship between women's advocates and program facilitators.

Event details

Date: Wednesday 6th March, 2024
Time: 9:30am - 11.30am (AEST)
Location: Online

Who should attend

This workshop is for domestic and family violence, sexual violence and women's health and wellbeing services.

About the facilitators

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.