Heavy METAL founder David Nugent is calling for sponsors to help Greater Dandenong men overcome unnecessary angry behaviour.
By Shaun Inguanzo
A PROGRAM that counsels men to prevent domestic violence is calling for sponsors to fund a similar course in Greater Dandenong.
Mens Education Towards Anger and Life (Heavy METAL) is urging businesses and neighbourhood houses across the city to provide financial support so those who cannot afford counselling costs can still seek help.
Heavy METAL founder David Nugent said the 12-week program helped men identify, understand, and take responsibility for their behaviour, attitudes and emotional reactions.
The program has one outlet in Pakenham, provided by the Outlook Community Centre, but Mr Nugent said people in Greater Dandenong were constantly contacting him for help.
He now hopes local businesses and neighbourhood houses will contact the group and provide support.
“If somebody out there in the Dandenong community can get behind and help us get sponsorship for what is happening in the community, we can certainly get the program up and running,” he said.
“We help guys who have never realised what they do is a form of abuse, until they meet us,” Mr Nugent said.
“When we go through it and explore what their behaviour is, then take ourselves out of their shoes and put them in their partner’s, they say oh damn, that’s why she left me.”
He said the group encouraged men to talk about their problems in a non-threatening environment.
“Guys are given lots of warnings, but like to sweep things under the mat in the hope it will go away.
“They complain (their partners) remember things from two or three years ago, and I say that’s because you never dealt with it.”
To assist Heavy METAL and crisis-stricken men across Greater Dandenong, contact David Nugent on 0401 766 877.
