Men's Behaviour Change Programs are provided by many different providers and in many different settings. They are facilitated by people of diverse backgrounds, disciplines and theoretical posititionings. There are often disparities in the resources available for men's behaviour change work in different geographic areas. These differences mean that each Men's Behaviour Change Program will be unique.

Whilst respecting and valuing uniqueness, NTV believes there are some Minimum Standards for men's behaviour change work. These are necessary for:

Safety. The aim of behaviour change work with men is to promote women's and children's safety. Where this work is conducted inappropriately or without adequate safeguards, interventions with men have the potential to endanger women and children, staff and others. Minimum standards of practice establish a basic framework for working with men in a manner most conducive to the safety of all involved.

Accountability. Men's behaviour change work is undertaken in the interests of safety for women and children. Without opening men’s behaviour change work to their scrutiny and feedback, NTV and program providers risk further reinforcing patriarchal social relations that disregard women's and children's voices and experiences. Structures and processes for accountability to women and children include:

• Contact with individual women and children.
• Links and partnerships with women's and children's services. 
• Relationships with government.

Quality assurance. Men's Behaviour Change Programs are a service, and as such need benchmarks for quality and processes for complaints or grievances.

Public information. People seeking to join or refer men to behaviour change programs are often not in a position to assess the suitability or safety of programs. Minimum standards of practice enable referrers to be confident about the appropriateness, quality and integrity of a service.

Facilitating the safe expansion of programs. Men in some parts of Victoria have no or very limited access to Men's Behaviour Change Programs. NTV is committed to assisting the development of new programs by making clear the minimum requirements for their establishment, conduct and evaluation.

NTV chose to use the phrase 'Minimum Standards' as this phrase most accurately reflects the fact that there are policies, procedures and practices that are imperative for safe, ethical men's behaviour change work. These are the minimum necessary to ensure that women and children are not at increased risk as a result of men's participation in Men's Behaviour Change Programs.

NTV also advocates policies, procedures and practices that exceed minimum requirements. Some are identified as Good Practice Guidelines. These guidelines do not fulfil NTV's criteria for Minimum Standards, however most, if not all, are essential for quality practice. It is hoped that all members will aspire to reach and then surpass the Good Practice Guidelines as they expand and enrich their programs over the years.

This website contains a summary of the Minimum Standards and Good Practice Guidelines. The full manual Men’s Behaviour Change Group Work: A Manual for Quality Practice outlines these standards in detail, provides in-depth discussion of 35 practice areas in running Men’s Behaviour Change Programs, and contains a range of example administrative and practice tools such as handouts, forms and pro formal letters. To order a copy, visit our Publications page.