Treatment Program Schedule

Our clinical staff has been trained in the delivery of the latest theoretically supported firesetting treatment program. The program is based on international research and clinical practice, and has been adapted for the Australian context by ACART staff. We have also examined support for the theoretical model in a large group of Australians convicted of firesetting offences.

The program is involves weekly two hour sessions for the duration, and selection criteria includes:

1. Participants must be over 14 years old
2. Have committed an unauthorised act of deliberate firesetting
3. Commit to compulsory attendance for duration of the program (individual and group sessions)
4. Willing to undertake psychological assessment to assess progress during and after treatment
5. Willing for results of assessments to be confidentially included in research for program accreditation

Sessions will be up to two hours’ duration and will comprise the following modules:

1. Good lives model, exploring values and life goals
2. Understanding my offending behaviour
3. Examining and managing fire interest
4. Mood and coping
5. Fire safety awareness
6. Communication and relationships
7. Examining my thinking patterns around offending
8. Exploring offence patterns
9. Recognising personal risk indicators
10. Plans for the future

The cost per session is currently subsidised during the pilot research project. In the future, the cost will be $15 per session and will include course materials.