Newcastle early intervention program for young men and boys to address violence

Tuesday, 12 November 2024

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The University of Newcastle’s Name.Narrate.Navigate.360 (NNN.360) program has secured more than $2.1 million in Australian Government funding to support young men and boys who may be at risk of engaging in family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV).

NNN.360 is a collaboration between the University of Newcastle's established Name.Narrate.Navigate (NNN) program and Allambi Care.

Led by University of Newcastle Associate Professor Tamara Blakemore, as part of the NSW Centre for Violence Prevention and Healing, the initiative will offer trauma-informed, healing-focused, and culturally responsive support to young men and boys aged 12-18.

NNN Kelly and TamaraDirector of Family and Early Interventions Program for Allambi Care Kelly-Lee Goodchild and Chief Investigator of the University of Newcastle’s Name.Narrate.Navigate.360 (NNN.360) program, Associate Professor Tamara Blakemore.

The program will specifically target those with adverse childhood experiences including family and domestic violence, and who may be using or at risk of using FDSV.

“Young men and boys at risk of using family, domestic and sexual violence have frequently experienced trauma or violence themselves. NNN.360 will recognise this critical, often overlooked factor,” Associate Professor Blakemore said.

“By addressing these underlying experiences, the program aims to break the cycle of violence in ways that traditional prevention programs may miss.”

NNN.360 is one of 12 projects across the country to receive funding as part of the Australian Government’s national early intervention trial. The Government has committed more than $23 million over three years for the trial.

The new initiative will allow young men and boys in the Newcastle region to access:

  • Counselling and therapeutic support to assist their recovery and healing from experiences of family and domestic violence
  • Psychoeducation to build skills for self-awareness, self-regulation and healthy connection with others
  • Through-care support via person-centred pathway planning

Associate Professor Blakemore said the program would be informed by community-based, participatory research, and would promote skills in emotion regulation, communication, empathy, and positive choice.

“NNN.360 will empower participants through its de-stigmatising emphasis on an individuals unlimited potential, and how a person's story can shift, change, and grow,” Associate Professor Blakemore said

“The program will be underpinned by practice principles of mindful engagement, validation of trauma, reciprocal communication, shared power, and the importance of skills-based learning for change.”

The initiative will be delivered across a range of settings including schools, Aboriginal services, culturally diverse and gender inclusive settings, out-of-home care, disability services, justice, health, and community contexts.

“By embedding the program in a variety of community settings, young men and boys of diverse identities will be able to access intervention in areas that best meet their needs,” Associate Professor Blakemore said.

University of Newcastle Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation, Professor Zee Upton, said the University was well-placed to take the lead on this vital initiative for its regions.

“This program will expand on the success of our Name.Narrate.Navigate initiative to deliver early intervention that breaks future cycles of violence.

“This is the University’s Engagement Priorities in action – building stronger and more connected communities and improving the health and wellbeing of people here in our regions and beyond.

“And we know that to achieve our shared goal of ending domestic and family violence, cross-industry collaboration is key. Our partnership with Allambi Care will mean this program reaches those in our communities who need it most,” Professor Upton said.

Allambi Care CEO, Simon Walsh, said the partnership had the potential to change young lives.

“We are extremely excited to be working alongside the University of Newcastle on this important piece of work. This program will have such a positive impact on the trajectory of young men and boys in our local community,” Mr Walsh said.

Director of Family and Early Interventions Program for Allambi Care, Kelly-Lee Goodchild, said the program would create a pathway to healing that may not otherwise be available.

“Name.Narrate.Navigate.360 will give young people a real chance at developing their ability to positively connect with others, strengthening their self-awareness, while refining and developing skills that will have a big impact on future opportunities in their life.”

The trial will begin in early 2025.

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