A world-first residential men’s behavior change program has been launched by Dardi Munwurro, in partnership with the Collingwood Football Club and the Victorian Government, in a bid to break the alarming cycle of family violence in Indigenous communities.

Ngarra Jarranounith Place is a pioneering residential program for Indigenous Men who have used or are at risk of using family violence. Ngarra Jarranounith Place builds on the vision and vast experience of Dardi Munwurro – Strong Spirit, to provide programs that build stronger families and safer communities.

Family violence is a major problem that continues to devastate Indigenous communities. Indigenous women are up to 35 times more likely to experience domestic and family violence than non-Indigenous women.

To support the program, the Collingwood Football Club is providing three furnished three-bedroom houses which will provide accommodation for Koori men. A Koori elder will live on-site to give cultural support and guidance.

The club has also provided a permanent program facility at the Victoria Park Community Centre in Collingwood, to provide support programs as part of the Ngarra Jarranounith Place.

The name means ‘men’s healing place’ in Wurundjeri, the language of the site’s Traditional Custodians.

About Ngarra Jarranounith Place
Ngarra Jarranounith Place, which translates to Men’s Healing Place in Woi Wurung language, is a program designed to support men to make positive changes in their lives. The program offers intensive one-on-one support and group activities that focus on:

- Strong Spirit and Strong Culture
- Taking Responsibility
- Healthy Relationships

The program’s unique holistic approach focuses on planning for the participant’s transition back into their community and where possible linking men into one of nine Men’s healing & behaviour change groups around Victoria.

Following completion of the intensive 16-week program participants will be provided support for up to 18 months.

Ngarra Jarranounith Place Program Manager, Lionel Dukakis brings extensive experience to the program, having worked in the Aboriginal community services sector at regional and state levels in both community and government settings.

Ngarra Jarranounith Place is a partnership between Dardi Munwurro, the Victorian Government, Collingwood Football Club, Melbourne Storm, Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and No To Violence.

Ngarra Jarranounith Place can be contacted on 1800 NGARRA.

About Dardi Munwurro
Dardi Munwurro, which means Strong Spirit was established in the year 2000 with the vision of building stronger families and safer communities.

Dardi Munwurro has been delivering Aboriginal Men’s healing and behavior change program across Victoria over the past 17 years in addition to cultural awareness training, leadership workshops and more recently Aboriginal Youth Journey’s Program.

The purpose of the community men’s groups is to break the cycle of family violence by supporting Indigenous men to recognise intergenerational trauma, understand cycles of violence, commit to behaviour change, understand and manage emotions, heal their spirit, and develop a vision for their lives.

Dardi Munwurro has extensive experience and success working with Indigenous men who have used or at risk of using family violence. This is shown with participation of over 1200 Indigenous men since the establishment of the program, with external evaluations consistently finding the programs to be effective.

Why is this service needed?
Family violence is a major problem that continues to devastate Indigenous communities:

- Indigenous women are up to 35 times more likely to experience domestic and family violence than non-Indigenous women (The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010 – 2022)

- Indigenous women and girls are 31 times more likely to be hospitalized due to domestic and family violence related assaults compared to non-Indigenous women and girls (Productivity Commission’s Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report 2011

- There was a 60 per cent increase in the number of children entering out-of-home care between 2013 and 2015 with family violence, alcohol and substance abuse the main factors (Always Was, Always Will Be, Koori Children report, Andrew Jackomos – Victoria’s Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, 2016)