Preventing and responding to family violence can be complex; and intersecting barriers affecting migrant and refugee populations make this even more challenging. Linguistic, cultural and religious differences can also impact the ability of individuals to seek help, either from their own community or from family violence services. This can be further compounded by trauma associated with refugee status, an individual’s pre-migration and post-settlement journey and a lack of understanding of Australian laws and the service system.
We know that Australia’s cultural and linguistic composition continues to diversify- and so too must our prevention strategies. Currently, there is limited guidance around tailoring programs to maximise the engagement of men from migrant and refugee backgrounds who use violence.
In our work with these men, inTouch utilises our pioneering inLanguage, inCulture delivery model, which is built on our specialist and nuanced knowledge of the experiences and needs of migrant and refugee communities in Australia. Through programs that challenge men’s behaviour like Motivation for Change, specifically tailored projects and capacity building with multicultural communities, inTouch can address attitudes and behaviours before they cause harm, using language and culture as a strength-based response.
