David Nugent, founder of the Heavy M.E.T.A.L (Men’s Education Towards Anger & Life) Group

David is a recognised psychotherapist who has facilitated over 5,000 hours of Men’s Behaviour Change Programs. His signature no-nonsense style lived experience, and wealth of knowledge set him apart from others in the field.

Since 2004, through his Group, he has allowed countless men to begin their journey of self-discovery and behavioural change. He inspires men to look at themselves and take responsibility for what they can change rather than blaming, making excuses, or justifying their abusive behaviour. Introducing his program into schools has seen David inundated with requests for help from parents urgently seeking support for their kids. His reward from this work is seen through the many men and teenagers who make the change to turn their lives around. He is kept extremely busy between running school programs, the Heavy M.E.T.A.L. Group, and a private counselling service for individuals, couples, and teenagers in the southeast of Melbourne. With the recent challenges of the pandemic, David has successfully adapted his Men’s Behaviour Change Program to run online. This has enabled men across Australia, New Zealand, to Hong Kong to benefit from the program.

David was once a violent and abusive person. One day, he realised he might lose his family if he didn’t change his behaviour. Soon after, he found a men’s behaviour change group and decided to attend – the best decision he ever made! Seeing the changes in his own life inspired David to explore the work further and began educating himself so he, in turn, could help others find the same peace.

David absorbed the subject of male Family Violence, graduating from Swinburne University with a Graduate Certificate in Social Science for Male Family Violence. Then, in 2005 completed a Post Graduate Diploma in counselling with La Trobe University, shortly followed by a specialist course in Couple Therapy at Relationships Australia. David was then accredited as a member of the Australian Counselling Association. In 2008 he was invited by Monash University to present as a guest lecturer to Social Work undergraduates. David continued his education and in 2019 attained qualification to enable him to offer counsellors and psychotherapist working in the Family Violence, professional Supervision, as recognised by the Australian Counselling Association.

David began his work with men facilitating community Men’s Behaviour Change groups, working with Relationships Australia and as a telephone counsellor with the Men’s Referral Service.

David, with his experience, felt ready to establish his project. The Heavy M.E.T.A.L. Group was developed and launched in 2004 in Dromana. Soon, due to the high demand for his services, the group was soon to move to larger premises in Pakenham.

Local schools soon heard about his work, and David was invited to run his program in Doveton for Year 10 boys struggling to manage their anger. It was so successful that he was invited back to run the program for both boys and girls. In 2017, David presented weekly workshops for the Year 10 students at Hallam Senior College. The program continues to run at local secondary colleges, where David is contracted to engage with educators and students.

The media, being aware of David’s expertise in Family Violence, asked him in 2004 to appear in the ABC “Primal Instincts” documentary, which examined Anger, Fear, Happiness, and Love. This was followed by a feature in ABC TV’s “4 Corners.” After the program aired, he was inundated with requests from both men and women for his support.

Following this, a film production team approached David to participate in creating the documentary “Call Me Dad”. It is a story about men who have perpetrated or are perpetrators, of family violence. In the program, men are followed on their journey as they try to change and heal and aim to earn another shot at the title “Dad”. The film was aired on ABC TV in 2015. In 2019, David was invited to host a fundraiser screening of “Call Me Dad”, facilitating a heartfelt Q & A session around men’s struggles and recognising the impact of their behaviour on loved ones.

Recently David was a guest speaker on ABC radio – ‘All In The Mind Podcast’ ‘Seeing Red-Anger and Aggression’ sharing his experience of how anger is used as an excuse to be abusive. David has also spoken widely to audiences about his personal journey, the subject of Family Violence and the impact of his programs. Speaking at hospitals and as a guest speaker at the White Ribbon Day Men’s Breakfast. In 2018, he spoke at the Australian Counselling Association National Conference, sharing his unique blueprint to engage with men. Later that year, David presented a two-day workshop, “Let’s Change the Story”, at the University of Tasmania, exploring with students how inequality contributes to domestic violence.

In 2017, David was awarded the Australia Day Citizen Award for his dedication and commitment to improving the people’s lives in the City of Casey municipality and beyond.

David’s years of experience have given him great insight into all aspects of men’s behaviour and the many struggles they face. His program is unique, with its open, encouraging, and non-judgemental approach.