Sussex Street Legal Services is proud to present its Respondents Program as a national case study in transforming how legal systems can intervene early and effectively with perpetrators of family and domestic violence (FDV). In line with the conference theme “Turning the Tide: Supporting Survivors and Shaping Change”, our work illustrates how frontline legal support to respondents of Family Violence Restraining Orders (FVROs) can enhance safety for victim-survivors and children.

The presentation will outline our five interconnected legal services, including our telephone advice line, duty lawyer programs in both Magistrates and Family Court, and our pioneering Shuttle Conferencing program. We will present compelling data showing that FVROs resolved through our Shuttle Conferencing services have a breach rate of only 1.5%, compared to 15.2% for those finalised at trial—clear evidence of the program’s success in reducing risk. We will discuss how the presence of legal representation for respondents promotes earlier resolution, clearer understanding of court orders, and greater compliance—all of which contribute to long-term safety outcomes.

A key focus of the presentation will be our pilot program REACH, a family law program for those bound by FVROs, entry to which was dependent on agreeing to engage with Men’s Behaviour Change (MBC) programs. We will explore our experiences working alongside MBC providers, including the structural and behavioural barriers to meaningful engagement, and our observations on what might best enable these programs to work in practice.

Finally, we will address the critical issue of sustainability. Despite our measurable impact, lack of funding has forced us to close our family law program. We believe it is time to confront the unsettling reality: funding evidence-based services for perpetrators is not about supporting violence—it is about stopping it. We believe investing in perpetrators, done the right way, can help turn the tide.