Dr Tony Fletcher, PhD Social Worker

Throughout 25 years of working in community and prison contexts, I have provided therapeutic engagement to support people in addressing the effects of violence/abuse in their lives. I have consulted with adult and young men who have hurt others, strangers and/or people close to them. Consultations may come about when a man has concerns and/or has made choices he regrets and/or men may self-refer, be referred by a professional either health or legal, and/or attend as a result of legal mandate. In these consultations I am interested in exploring with men how these behaviours fit with their hopes and intentions regarding establishing and maintaining lifestyles of safety, responsibility, accountability and respect. These consultations have often included, and/or been solely directed by discussions with men who have experienced individual and compound traumas including the effects of childhood sexual abuse and acute adult traumas. Across this time I have had the privilege of being invited to sit with Aboriginal men to consult with them regarding experiences of institutional abuses and living with the effects of racial trauma/s. Therapeutic engagement is informed by the principles of Narrative Therapy and guided by the Invitational Approach. Individual consultations may be long-term or short term as required. I work in close partnership with Aboriginal colleagues to promote culturally safe institutional and organisational spaces that value justice and fairness for Aboriginal people. This work has seen me take up responsibilities to reflect on privilege in personal and professional contexts and to promote anti-racist practices. I have experience in teaching, training and supervision related to working with men, violence intervention, family violence intervention, sexual violence intervention, power and privilege, and working collaboratively and cross culturally for respectful and safe service provision. I have worked closely with statutory agencies and non-government agencies to provide assessments of suitability and readiness or therapy, and progress in therapy providing reports descriptive of both. I have many years experience in developing, implementing evaluating and performance managing behavioural change programs for men in the areas of family violence, sexual violence, effects of child sexual abuse and working with men, and generally violent offending. In close consultation and partnership with Aboriginal colleagues I have also experience in co-developing, co-implementing, evaluating and performance managing behavioural change programs for men in the areas of family violence. I have worked extensively with sporting organisations to assist individuals to manage the psychological effects of long-term injury, issues regarding disciplinary action both internal and sanctioned by a governing body. I have extensive experience in working with sporting bodies and teams in developing anti-racist and anti-misogynistic team and club culture. I completed a Masters of Clinical Social Work and was awarded a PhD by Research in the area of Family Violence intervention through UNISA School of Social Work and Psychology in 2018. I am a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). I also work in partnership for cultural respect and safety with beyond: Kathleen Stacey and associates and works collaboratively on projects with Kardla Miyurna.