Quality practice elements for men’s behaviour change programs (MBCPs) in the Northern Territory

Abstract

The Quality Practice Elements for Men’s Behaviour Change Programs (MBCPs) in the Northern Territory are a practice guide developed as part of ANROWS’s <a href="https://www.anrows.org.au/project/evaluation-northern-territory-mens-behaviour-change-programs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Evaluation of the Northern Territory’s men’s behaviour change programs</a>. It provides guidance for people funding, designing and delivering men’s behaviour change programs, and those working more broadly to enhance community safety and wellbeing.<br><br>The quality practice elements (QPEs) for MBCPs in the Northern Territory focus on how to lift the overall quality of a men’s behaviour change program (MBCP). This evidence-informed framework draws together existing practice standards (including the Central Australian Minimum Standards for MBCPs) for the development, running and continuous improvement of MBCPs, as well as recent research and emerging practice-based knowledge about how to improve the quality of these programs, contextualised for the Northern Territory (NT).<br><br>The QPEs identify nine areas of quality practice in MBCPs, and 60 elements describing “what good looks like” across these themes:<br><br><ol> <li>Program design, aims and objectives</li> <li>Integrated governance and practice</li> <li>Risk assessment, analysis and management</li> <li>Women’s and children’s safety support (partner support)</li> <li>Theoretical models and curriculum development</li> <li>Access and participation</li> <li>Tailoring MBCP work</li> <li>Building a high-quality team</li> <li>Monitoring and program review</li> </ol> <br>The QPEs will be useful for both stakeholders within and outside of the NT in considering what quality practice in MBCPs might look like in various contexts and jurisdictions. While many practice elements would apply equally across different contexts and jurisdictions, for some elements, the considerations or contextual factors that might affect quality practice are likely to differ from place to place. Some elements would also need to be adapted to fit the specific legislative requirements of the jurisdiction the MBCP might be operating in.

<br><br> See also <a href="https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/23048" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Evaluation of the Northern Territory’s men’s behaviour change programs: Key learnings for policy and practice</em></a> and the practice assessment tool, <a href="https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/23049" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rubric: Quality practice elements for men’s behaviour change programs (MBCPs) in the Northern Territory</a>.