No Excuses

“Yesterday I dropped my daughter off to my ex. I heard my daughter ask her mum why dad wasn’t angry all the time now… It was tough to hear her say that, but it also felt good to know she had seen a change. My daughter’s getting her father back.” – No Excuses participant

“Everything is great and I’m heaps different to the way I was. We’re really happy, and my boy is growing so well. But the scar on my partner’s arm means we’ll never totally forget what happened. She has forgiven me, but I don’t know if I’ve forgiven myself yet. If I hadn’t done the Shine programme I would probably have lost her and I’d be gutted about that.” – No Excuses participant

No Excuses is a free, positive change programme for people who have perpetrated family violence – with a group programme for men, and an individual programmes for men, women and non-binary adults. We motivate and support people to change their behaviour and help them develop the insight and skills they need to maintain respectful, non-violent relationships.

People are either self-referred to the programme or referred or required to attend by the courts, community probation, or another agency.

How does No Excuses help participants?

Our No Excuses programme:

  • Examines and challenges beliefs that support violence and coercive control 
  • Looks at the effects that abuse has on the people who are victimised
  • Teaches non-controlling and non-violent alternatives.
  • Does not judge the people who use abuse, but judges abusive behaviour and focuses on engaging with participants so that they feel comfortable to talk openly about their past and present behaviour
  • Often motivates participants to change by discussing the impact of violence and abusive behaviour on their children

How does No Excuses work?

  • Participants attend a one-on-one assessment which is an opportunity to engage and assess suitability for a group or individual programme
  • For the group programme, most men attend weekly sessions for 16 weeks. Some men attend an individual programme, which may be because of issues with English, literacy, cognition, or because they are gay and therefore may not be able to speak openly in the group. Groups are facilitated by a male and a female facilitator who work as a team. All group facilitators have extensive group work experience and specialist domestic abuse experience.
  • Women and non-binary adults participate in individual programmes

What are the programme outcomes?

  • Most participants who finish the programme come away with a better understanding of themselves and are equipped with the skills vital for a violence-free future.
  • However, changing ingrained attitudes and behaviours is hard work and attending this programme is sometimes not enough to motivate a permanent change in behaviour. Some participants will continue their abusive behaviour or some forms of it.