SAFE Dads

How Will the Program Work?

The program consists of four two-hour sessions and is free of charge NQDVRS will accept referrals and will plan dates to suit.

What Will be Covered by the Program?

	The program will explore what it means to be a father. Participants will address how domestic and family violence negatively impacts on their children, the children’s mother and themselves.
	The group will increase their understanding of how to provide non-violent discipline and to negotiate the discipline of their children with the children’s mother.
	Participants will be equipped with some tools to prevent violence.
	The group will discuss the benefits of being in a healthy relationship and the consequences of unhealthy relationships.

Children and Domestic Violence

Many people believe that if domestic violence occurs between two partners, their children will not be affected, that they are too young to understand and that they will just forget about it. It is also often assumed that if a man is a ‘good dad’, his children will not be impacted by the violence he uses against their mother.

Using violence against your children’s mother is not being a good dad. You may be seriously harming your children in many ways.

Children living with domestic and family violence can grow up believing that violence is an appropriate way to solve problems and that men have the right to control women. They may blame themselves or their mother for the violence.

Children and Domestic Violence Aardvarc for Parents For Children

Are You Using Domestic and Family Violence?

Forms of domestic and family violence include:

	Physical abuse e.g. using or threatening to use greater physical strength to control someone e.g. hitting, pushing, kicking, choking, using weapons.
	Sexual abuse e.g. unwanted sex, sex acts and/or touching, ignoring or ridiculing sexual feelings, sexual harassment.
	Verbal abuse e.g. put downs, insults, name calling, swearing.
	Social abuse e.g. isolating someone, insulting their friends or family, humiliating them in front of others, refusing to let them socialize.
	Economic abuse e.g. controlling the finances whoever earns them, depriving someone of enough money to live decently, refusing to work.
	Emotional abuse controlling someone through fear and intimidation e.g. withholding affection, criticising, punishing, degrading, playing ‘mind games’ and stalking.
	Spiritual abuse e.g. breaking someone’s spirit, ridiculing their beliefs, boasting of exploits with others, comparing them to others.

More about Domestic and Family Violence

More about Types of Violence

Program Sessions in Brief

What does it mean to be a father?

	How it feels to be a father.
	What does it mean to be a good dad?
	The effects your actions have on your children and partner.
	Respecting the children’s mother

Discipline

	The importance of non-violent discipline.
	Non-violent discipline versus punishment.
	Negotiating discipline with your partner.
	How to provide non-violent discipline to your children

More about Dicipline

Domestic and family violence

	· What is it and how does it affect the children?
	· How do we keep our children safe?
	· If mum does not feel safe, neither will the children.
	· Tools to prevent domestic violence.