Evaluation of the Northern Territory's men's behaviour change programs: Key learnings for policy and practice
Our summary
This report presents findings from evaluations of two government-funded men's behaviour change programs (MBCPs): the CatholicCare NT Perpetrator Intervention Service in Darwin and Wadeye, and Tangentyere Council’s Marra’ka Mbarintja Men’s Program in Alice Springs. This evaluation examined how each program was implemented, the barriers and enablers to quality practice, and opportunities to strengthen service delivery in the Northern Territory.
The evaluation found that both programs demonstrated several examples of quality practice, including prioritising the safety of women and children, collaborating with other services, responding flexibly to participant risk, working towards culturally safe practice for Aboriginal men, and embedding continuous learning and improvement. Strong partnerships with local communities and culturally responsive approaches were identified as essential to effective implementation, particularly in the Northern Territory's diverse settings.
The report also identified areas requiring improvement. These included broadening referral pathways beyond the criminal justice system, reporting on and improving program accessibility, and refining processes for identifying, analysing and managing risk. The evaluation emphasises that men's behaviour change programs are only one component of an integrated response and must operate alongside victim-survivor support services, accountability mechanisms, and broader prevention strategies.
The report recommends sustained government investment, stronger evaluation capacity, workforce development, culturally safe practice frameworks, and ongoing collaboration between service providers and communities. It concludes that supporting high-quality, evidence-informed men's behaviour change programs can strengthen perpetrator accountability while improving safety outcomes for women and children across the Northern Territory.