It is usually the victims in violent relationships who are forced to leave their homes and seek refuge, but a first-of-its-kind residential program in Perth is removing the perpetrators.
When Steve thinks about the time he broke his wife’s nose, he’s disgusted in himself.
He’s just completed his first week at Breathing Space – a residential program for domestic violence perpetrators run out of a house in suburban Perth that has the backing of high profile campaigner Rosie Batty.
It’s confronting and difficult at times, but he and the group of men staying at the house with him are not the victims, and for the 12 weeks they live there, they’ll be constantly reminded of that.Like many of the men who end up there, Steve has been heavily into drugs and in and out of jail.He’s determined to end that cycle and is hoping this unique program will help.
