Officers of the Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) have been delivering targeted intervention programs to influence perpetrators of domestic family violence.
Acting Superintendent, Offender Rehabilitation and Management Services, Shelley Lyell said many prisoners in QCS care had been offenders of domestic and family violence.
“Having behavioural change programs in place such as the Disrupting Family Violence Program (DFVP) aims to reduce the risk of violent and abusive behaviour in familial and intimate relationships,” Ms Lyell said.
“A trial of the DFVP began in 2019 with Wolston, Woodford and Maryborough Correctional Centres as trial sites.”
She said the program was targeted at prisoners who had perpetrated violence and abusive behaviour against intimate partners and family members and aimed to work towards goals that increased safety and promoted family wellbeing.
“The group format program explores core beliefs and emotions that drive abusive thinking and behaviour and focuses on respect and equality, connections, and how family violence impacts children,” Ms Lyell said.
“Strategies to enhance family wellbeing are then developed,” she said.
“The DFVP program is based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy which research indicates is effective in changing attitudes, beliefs and behaviour.”
She said it was designed to reduce the likelihood of future domestic and family violence, making the trial an important element of QCS’s efforts to contribute to community safety.
“The program trial has been running for approximately 18 months and the responses to date from both participants and facilitators are positive, Ms Lyell said.
