Four participants in a Hedland DV perpetrator program, which looks to expand by the end of the year

A Hedland-based men’s domestic violence program, which began at the start of the year, says it has so far proved effective with a small number of clients, but hopes to expand its services to cater to demand. Breathing Space is a voluntary men’s residential behaviour change program for perpetrators of family and domestic violence that was launched in South Hedland in February 2023. The program helps men understand their violence, anger and abuse while they spend six months living in an on-site facility. A Department of Communities spokesperson said the program currently had four participants. “The Hedland Breathing Space commenced operations in February 2023 as a residential men’s behaviour change program offering intensive behaviour change for perpetrators of family and domestic violence in South Hedland,” they said. “The program provides up to six months accommodation, counselling, a men’s group behaviour change program, and case management. “Currently, the service is working with four men.” The program, which was announced in October 2022, is run by Communicare and was funded through a $1.8 million Lotterywest grant and a $3.5 million investment but the Department of Communities. The investment was used to renovate nine units for the men to live in during the program. A Communicare spokesperson said the program had the capacity for more men and expected more participants to join soon. “The three Western Australian facilities are among very few residential men’s behaviour change programs in operation worldwide,” they said. “Hedland Breathing Space can accommodate 14 participants at any one time, but Communicare has taken a graduated approach to participant numbers over the first six months to ensure the program meets community needs. “Recruitment of staff in the region over this period has also been a challenge. We expect more men to enter the service as we head towards the new year and move to full-service delivery.” The program also provides short-stay residential crisis service for men who have received 24 or 72-hour police orders removing them from the family home for using violence and abuse. Participants complete an intensive therapeutic program that includes group work, individual counselling and case management. The Department of Communities spokesperson said the program would be evaluated at the end of the two-year trial. As Breathing Space Hedland is voluntary, the onus is on the perpetrators to register themselves for the program. The first Breathing Space program was established in Calista in 2003 and a second one was launched in Maylands in 2019.