Reflections and Insights on an Innovative Australian Perpetrator Intervention Program for Males and Females who Perpetrate Family Violence

Abstract

This article presents qualitative reflections and insights from an evaluative research project on an innovative Australian program for male and female perpetrators of family violence. The study was guided by the Effects, Mechanisms, Moderators, Implementation, and Economic value (EMMIE) framework, with thematic analysis undertaken on the interviews of male and female perpetrators (N = 7), program facilitators (N = 6), and family members (N = 3). Potential gendered differences identified in the lived experience of male and female perpetrators were, first, the level of emotional expression and communication and, second, the level of self-reflection and insight. Despite these potential differences, both male and female perpetrators experienced the implementation of change to attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors relating to family violence as challenging.