New $24 million initiative targets fathers at risk of using family violence

The “Dads on Track” stream of funding has been disbursed to 14 organisations across Australia.

One of the major recipients, Odyssey House NSW, has received $1.75 million over five years to expand its specialist behaviour change program, TRACKS (Towards Recovery, Accountability and Change for Kids and Self). 

TRACKS is designed to help fathers recognise the early warning signs of using violence, take responsibility for their actions, address problematic substance abuse, and build safer, healthier relationships with their children and families, according to Odyssey House NSW.

The organisation’s CEO, Carmel Tebbutt, said early intervention was essential in preventing prevent harm.

Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed that the number of family and domestic violence offenders increased by 8 per cent in 2024–25, rising to 97,800 offenders across the nation, the largest annual increase since national reporting began.

The most recent statistics available from the ABS (2021) showed that 27 per cent of women had experienced violence by an intimate partner or family member at least once since age 15, and 22 per cent had experienced sexual violence.

Rates of violence are higher in certain cohorts, and around two in three women who have experienced violence from a cohabiting partner report that children in their care have seen or heard the violence.

The consequences for children’s safety, wellbeing and development can be lifelong, Odyssey House said.

Australian Institute of Criminology research has found that alcohol is involved in about one-third of intimate partner violence incidents.

Paul Ramsay Foundation’s (PRF’s) head of families, Jackie Ruddock, said, “Addressing family and domestic violence requires working with the family as a unit, as well as tailoring supports to individual family or kin, and their roles. PRF’s Dads on Track grants are about investing in early engagement, and holding accountability, so that we can further develop healing-focused models tailored to different communities.”

Tebbutt said that expanding Odyssey House NSW’s TRACKS program would mean helping more families before they reached crisis point. 

“The ABS figures show we cannot afford to focus only on responding to violence after it occurs,” she said. “We need to invest in prevention and earlier intervention with the people using violence. We need a much greater focus on the behaviours, attitudes and choices of those causing harm. By combining accountability with practical support for behaviour change, we can create safer homes, stronger families and better outcomes for children.”

Tebbutt said the additional funding would help provide specialist staffing and independent research to further strengthen and evaluate the program's impact.

The program focuses on:

• Recognising early warning signs of violence, abuse, and coercive behaviours

• Addressing alcohol and other drug issues associated with family harm

• Building emotional regulation and healthy coping strategies

• Accountability and personal responsibility

• Improving parenting skills and father–child relationships

• Helping fathers to become nurturing, safe and engaged parents

• Creating safer and more stable environments for children.

Tebbutt said the extra funding would help her organisation assist more families.

“Everyone has the right to live safely and free from violence. Achieving this requires a coordinated, whole-of-community response that addresses the complex factors contributing to family harm,” she said.

“This investment means we can expand our specialist behaviour program, working with fathers to address harmful behaviours before they escalate. The program will create opportunities to disrupt intergenerational cycles of trauma, disadvantage and harm.”

Announcing the funding, Paul Ramsay Foundation said the Dads on Track funding had been directed at “evidence-based programs that see fatherhood as a critical period of opportunity, as well as risk, to reduce instances of family violence and strengthen familial relationships.”

Collectively, the funding should see organisations able to work with more than 750 fathers per year across very remote, regional and urban areas in six states and territories. In addition to the funding directed to Odyssey House NSW, 13 other organisations will receive $350,000 per year for five years, including six First Nations-led programs and four programs working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

Two targeted interventions will address the increased risks of violence associated with drug and alcohol use, while whole-of-family and therapeutically intensive support models will offer alternatives to traditional behaviour change programs, the foundation said in announcing the grants. 

Four of the programs are collaborations, bringing organisations together to share expertise. 

More information

Dads on Track partners

First Nations-led programs

Ebenezer Aboriginal Corporation (Perth, WA) will deliver Warlang Maaman (Healthy Dads), bringing a stronger fathering focus to its existing culturally grounded and trauma-informed Men Supporting Men program.  

Kornar Winmil Yunti Aboriginal Corporation (Adelaide, SA) will expand its existing My Spirit program by including individual case management alongside a 22-session group-based and culturally grounded behaviour change and prevention program.

Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland Inc., together with Dardi Munwurro (Gippsland, Vic) will employ a local Aboriginal men's mentor to provide culturally responsive healing and behaviour change opportunities and 1:1 mentoring in Orbost, East Gippsland.

Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council (NPY Lands in the NT, WA and SA) will extend its Uti Kulintjaku Watiku Project, a strengths-based program delivered by senior Anangu men to young fathers at risk, offering positive opportunities to connect with Anangu men’s knowledge, culture and language. Central to the program will be Anangu-led multi-day men’s walks.

Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation (Alice Springs, NT) will apply a culturally grounded, trauma-informed framework to strengthen safe, gender-equitable parenting and whole-of-family wellbeing.  

Waminda South Coast Women's Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation (South Coast, NSW) will deliver the Birrung Baabamarra project, a culturally grounded behaviour change, wellbeing and healing program for men which incorporates group work and individual case management alongside cultural and wellbeing-focused activities.  

CALD-led programs

Australian Refugee Association (Adelaide, SA) will run the Connected Fathers Program, which combines individual therapeutic case management with culturally responsive group education and accountable behaviour change support for fathers from refugee and migrant backgrounds.  

Domestic Violence Action Centre Inc., together with Immigrant Women's Support Services (Toowoomba, Qld), will run Strong Fathers, Strong Babas, a six-month flexible, holistic and trauma-informed program that incorporates Caring Dads alongside individual case management for culturally and linguistically diverse dads.  

Intouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence, together with Relationship Matters (Vic), will design and run Bridges to Safety and Change, a family violence-informed 20-week parenting intervention for multicultural fathers.  

NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Survivors of Torture and Trauma (STARTTS), together with Kateb Hazara Association (Cumberland LGA, NSW), will adapt existing Families in Cultural Transition and Purple Hearts programs into a fatherhood-centred domestic and family violence intervention for Hazara refugee fathers that will involve a 10–12-week group program, ongoing 1:1 support and community awareness education.  

Other programs

Act for Kids Limited (Moreton Bay region, Qld) will run Safe Families, which uses a whole-family approach to help fathers using violence to develop safe, respectful parenting through individual support, care coordination and the evidence-based Caring Dads group program, while prioritising the safety and wellbeing of children and families.  

Family Life Limited (Melbourne, Vic) will develop and deliver Talk4Change for Dads, a father-specific adaptation of its existing 20-week therapeutically intensive alternative to traditional behaviour change programs, designed for dads who have multiple needs such as mental health challenges, substance misuse and justice system involvement.  

Odyssey House NSW (Sydney, NSW) will deliver TRACKS, a six-month program integrating case management, individual counselling and group work that includes parenting support and education, behaviour change, and treatment for underlying issues (including alcohol and other drug use, mental health and trauma).  

Windana Drug and Alcohol Recovery Limited (Ballarat, Geelong and Frankston, Vic) will expand its 25-week U-Turn program, which helps fathers change violent behaviour and address alcohol and other drug problems through group sessions and individual support.