The Queensland Government already commits $9 million annually for what it calls “perpetrator intervention services”.

As well as the 30 per cent funding increase announced by Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman, the program’s scope will be widened to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, culturally and linguistically diverse people, LGBTQI+ people, and people with a disability.

With May marking Domestic and Family Violence Awareness Month, the aim of the funding is to meet the problem at its source, while supporting victims and survivors, Fentiman said.

The trials will be rolled out in a staged approach from July 1, and will inform the implementation of a state-wide network of perpetrator interventions.

Fentiman made the announcement at the launch of the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council’s Love ≠ Control project.

The project features the stories of Queenslanders with lived experience of domestic and family violence and calls on the community to be more aware of the warning signs of coercive control.

“The roll-out of new, innovative approaches to behavioural change programs will mean more opportunities to meaningfully engage with people who use violence, helping them to acknowledge and change their behaviour,” she said.

“Existing programs like the Brisbane Youth Service have demonstrated great results working with young people so far, and I’m excited that we will be trialing a second additional youth perpetrator intervention program in Queensland.

“The Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce recognised the importance of interventions to change perpetrators’ behaviour as part of an integrated response to help keep victims of domestic and family violence safe.”