Adapting to online groupwork program delivery in specialist men’s family violence work during COVID lockdown restrictions was an important and significant response as Victoria began lockdowns in late 2019. What have we learned about the critical need for ethical care in technology mediated clinical practice in the context of men’s behaviour change work? How has this changed the way we operationalise men's behaviour change programs?

Considerations of an ethical care approach is fundamental to clinical practice in technology-mediated service delivery and particularly in groupwork programs with men using family violence.

COVID-19 has seen the massive and rapid uptake of teleconferencing through a range of platforms. This required organisations to rapidly adapt service delivery methods in an unprecedented and uncertain time. With lockdowns in place over long periods of time, No to Violence, in collaboration with four Victorian providers of men’s services and Family Safety Victoria developed service guidelines and an ethical care approach that empowered programs to move men’s behaviour change programs into the virtual space.
This workshop will discuss the background in the development of provider service guidelines as well as an ethical care approach to adapting programs in order to centre the safety and wellbeing of victim survivors and children impacted by family violence.
Ethical care in the delivery of online MBC programs starts with having a primary focus on the safety and wellbeing of those impacted by violence. This involves careful planning and preparation in all aspects of service delivery and particularly the operationalisation of an online men’s behaviour change program.

This workshop will discuss the key variables that are important in maintaining the importance of client relationships and staff wellbeing, clarity about professional and client conduct during each session and the technology and program requirements that are recommended.