Men’s behaviour change groups in Victoria have strict quality control criteria, set down in the Minimum Standards and Good Practice Guidelines of the peak body No To Violence (NTV). We will only refer male callers to those Men's Behaviour Change Programs that meet NTV's Minimum Standards.

Likewise, in the event that a male caller is seeking referral for individual counselling AND it is evident to the telephone counsellor that use of violent and controlling behaviour is an issue for the man, we will only provide a referral to a counselling professional who is a member of NTV. (In these circumstances, telephone counsellors will also endeavour to get a man to also accept a referral to a group program.)

In some situations, we provide male callers with referrals to other services in addition to a men’s behaviour change group. Examples of such services might be drug and alcohol services or legal advice. In these circumstances, we use the InfoCom database (also used by Lifeline and other large referral agencies) to make an appropriate referral.

Whilst personal development and fathering groups can potentially play a valuable role in supporting men to reflect and act upon patriarchy, we are very concerned that they also have the potential to attract and/or mobilise men towards anti-feminist or misogynistic causes. With this in mind, we will not refer to any service or organisation that has aims or practice counter to the aims and values of No To Violence and the Men's Referral Service.