YFS Domestic and Family Violence Senior Worker, Scott Cameron says his goal is essentially to end violence.

 

He says he’s a realist and understands that he is not going to change the world, but his work as a Counsellor and Facilitator can definitely make a significant contribution.

 

Scott constantly prepares himself for that.

 

“I learn best by doing. For me, there’s always room for improvement. I don’t believe I’ve got all the right answers.”

 

In February 2014, Scott completed the Duluth Model Training in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

 

He wanted to gain insight into how Men’s Behaviour Change programs operate in a different country, and about diverse practices to apply when working with the men individually and in group settings.

 

The YFS Responsible Men program uses components of the Duluth Model to facilitate change in men so they realise their accountability, learn responsible behaviours and increase the safety of women and children.

 

“Understanding the Duluth fundamentals has been invaluable for my facilitation when working with men who use violence. It’s given me deeper knowledge of the work I do and it’s opened up my eyes to look at the opportunities for improvement in the program.”

 

Scott is passionate about working with men, and for men, around behaviour change. He’s been doing counselling for nearly seven years now and he’s also become a White Ribbon Ambassador to continue to have conversations with men, even outside of his work.

 

“I bring my learnings into what we’re delivering here. By having conversations to identify men’s needs and wants, I encourage them to participate in programs like ours and to engage in respectful behaviour with friends, family or partners. Working through building those respectful relationships, they can participate and be partners rather than dictators.”

 

That’s what he likes the most of his role. Scott describes it as a privilege.

 

“They’re allowing me into their lives and their experiences. I like having those conversations with the men."

 

“But when you start seeing change in men’s behaviour, those are exciting and hopeful moments where you get that element of ‘we are making a change’.”

 

 

 

 

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“I like having those conversations with the men; talking to the men about domestic violence. I think the hardest thing about domestic violence within itself is that people don’t want to talk about it."

 

 

 

“The proudest moment is when you’re seeing change in men’s behaviour. They are actually coming home, using their strategies, treating women with respect. She’s feeling safer and she’s feeling happier about that transformation that he’s taking."

 

 

 

“It’s a sense of privilege that they’re allowing me into their life, their experiences, and to be able to

work with them around that

behaviour change."

 

YFS is funded by the Australian Government and the Queensland Government.

YFS acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are Australia's First Peoples and the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we meet and work.