Pathways for Change
Family Violence Behaviour Change Program Evaluation
Project Overview
Pathways for Change is a University of Melbourne longitudinal evaluation of Family Violence Behaviour Change Programs in Victoria, commissioned by the Department of Justice and Community Safety. The project follows how programs are delivered and experienced over time, and how they sit within a broader response to family violence, accountability, safety and recovery.
What are Family Violence Behaviour Change Programs?
Family Violence Behaviour Change Programs, often called BCPs, work with people who use family violence to support accountability and reduce the risk of further harm. In Victoria, they usually involve a structured group program, assessment and risk-management processes, and coordination with other services. Programs also include family safety advocacy, which offers support, information and risk monitoring for victim survivors. They also share information with services such as courts, police, child protection and specialist family violence services.
Programs commonly include weekly group sessions where participants examine patterns of harmful behaviour, responsibility, respectful relationships, parenting, gendered power and control, and strategies for responding differently. Participants may be referred by courts, police, community services or attend voluntarily. BCPs are only one part of the broader family violence system.
About the Pathways for Change study
The study is designed to understand how Behaviour Change Programs operate in real-world settings, how people move through programs, and what is needed to support safer outcomes over time. It brings together perspectives from program staff, participants, victim survivors, agencies and linked administrative data.
The project does not treat behaviour change as a simple or one-off event. Instead, it looks at change as a pathway shaped by motivation, program engagement, support services, justice and community responses, and the needs and safety of victim survivors.
Study timeline
The project was commissioned in 2023, with agency engagement and longitudinal data collection commencing in 2024. In 2026, Phase 2 expands and extends the Phase 1 data, with deeper analysis of participant pathways over time, models in use across Victoria, and preparation of findings.
Evaluation questions and Phase 2 focus
Phase 1 asked:
- What is the current state of Behaviour Change Programs in Victoria?
- This included questions about the approaches and models used, how closely programs followed their intended design, and how survivor voice was incorporated.
- How effective are programs at changing family violence behaviour?
- This included questions about how program approaches may drive change, and what barriers affect participants, victim survivors and children benefiting from programs.
- How effectively do programs support the safety, wellbeing and recovery of victim survivors, including children?
Phase 2 looks more deeply at participant pathways over time, alongside the models and approaches currently in use across Victoria.
Sources for the study
Pathways for Change draws on multiple sources of information to understand Behaviour Change Programs from different perspectives. These include interviews with program participants, victim survivors, program staff and stakeholders; observations and mapping of program delivery; consultation with people with lived experience; and linked administrative data about service contact over time.
Why this matters?
Family violence has serious and lasting impacts on adults, children, families and communities. Understanding how Behaviour Change Programs work in practice helps build a clearer picture of how accountability, safety and support can be strengthened across the wider family violence response.
For project enquiries, contact Jess Letch and Nico Tupper via Pathway-Study@unimelb.edu.au
Or contact: Nicolás Mosso-Tupper
E: nico.mossotupper@unimelb.edu.au