Blog
Read the latest news about us and the Ake app here.
Opening the Door Wider?
As we continue developing Ake and refining its role in supporting men on their journey through behaviour change programmes, we’re constantly exploring ways to increase accessibility and impact.
One of the questions we’ve been seriously considering is: Should we open up Ake’s website version so users can access it without needing to log in?
What This Could Mean
Right now, Ake is offered to services who provide access to the app for their DFSV programme participants. These users log in to the app (whether on mobile or web) and access a set of interactive modules, tools, and a forum-like feature we call Discussions—designed to extend the therapeutic environment outside of sessions.
But we know there are many men out there who aren’t currently connected to a service but who might still benefit from Ake’s resources. Making the web version of Ake freely accessible—without needing a login—could remove one more barrier between them and the support they need.
Imagine any man, at any point in his journey, being able to explore Ake’s content—no strings attached.
What We’d Be Giving Up (Sort Of)
Of course, there are trade-offs. Without being logged into Ake users would be limited to just the Emotions Compass and Content Library. This means:
- Service providers wouldn’t be able to send push notifications, a helpful nudge to engage users at the right time.
- Users wouldn’t have access to Discussions, our semi-private board where participants and clinicians can connect between sessions, share programme resources, set goals and more.
- There would be no way to track engagement, which is often useful for both facilitators and the men themselves.
That said, this wouldn’t mark the end of logins. The app currently available in app stores would still necessitate a login to use, meaning push notifications and discussions would be accessible to participants of programmes if they were provided a login. The web version of the app (accessible at akeapp.com) would be the only one that allows you to browse the site’s resources without needing a login.
With sufficient funding, this dual-access model could provide the best of both worlds: open access for the curious, and committed access for those in structured programmes. That said, given the current climate in which we live, you might well imagine that the path to securing successful funding for something like this has been quite challenging.
Why We’re Thinking About This Now
We’re currently piloting Ake with a handful of services across Aotearoa, and the feedback has been incredible. But it’s also highlighted a tension: there are more men who want support than there are seats in funded programmes. We want Ake to be part of closing that gap—not just reinforcing it.
Opening the web client as a resource for all could be one way to do that.
We’d Love Your Thoughts
This isn’t a decision we’re making lightly, and it’s not a done deal. We’re still testing, listening, and adjusting. But as always, we want to be transparent about where Ake is headed.
If you’re a clinician, programme facilitator, or someone working in the space of men’s behaviour change, we’d love to hear from you. Would this help? Would it hinder? Could this open door be a way for more men to walk toward change?
Let us know.
Sharing key points discussed so far
As the Ake pilot takes off, we’ve had enriching discussions with staff from the involved agencies about implementing Ake when working with men who use violence. A quick thank you to the staff involved in our pilot for embracing Ake in their practice and dedicating time to these insightful conversations. A couple of points we’d like to share for this month’s blog post stood out from these conversations, which we touched on below.
- Ake and its features serve as an expansion of the facilitator toolkit. One concern that emerged was the potential for features like Discussions to be misused early in group settings, prompting dialogue about post-moderation and the responsible use of this feature. The resolution that stemmed from this conversation was that not all app features need to be utilised from the outset. Instead, we should view Ake as a toolkit where selecting the right tool at the right moment can have the best impact. At the end of the day, the facilitator will know best, and the app will provide more options for enrichment and enhancement of the intervention.
The conversation evolved to suggest that once trust is established within the group during sessions, initiating a mid-week discussion on the app could then foster a more empathetic environment for resource sharing and seeking support. On top of this, we are looking into a feature where Coaches can approve posts before they are shared with everyone involved in a discussion. A final thought was that misuse of the app by service users, while still seen as inappropriate behaviour, at least provides opportunities for the facilitator to question the user about the behaviour as a part of the intervention. Questions like “Why did you feel that you wanted to post that in the discussion?” or “What is going on for you to want to use the app in that way?” may provide better insights into the deeper issues that particular service user is facing rather than summing it up to programme resistance. - Utilising Ake for service users in a holding pattern for intake or assessment. We had an interesting conversation with agency staff who experience programme capacity issues, especially around the issue of men waiting for services dropping out due to the lack of engagement from said service. The resulting discussion led to some great ideas around utilising Ake as a pre-programme resource. When services are at capacity, offering Ake as a resource to engage men with programme-related material could benefit both the individuals awaiting entry and the service providers. We recognise the potential to enhance program readiness by granting Ake access during this waiting period. This not only conveys a supportive message that, despite capacity challenges, there is meaningful work to be done on their journey toward family well-being and safety, but it also could assist in preventing dropouts before the programme even begins. We look forward to working with agencies to explore these concepts further.
We may share a few other great talking points in future updates on this blog. Do you have a comment or suggestion on either of these points? Or something else entirely? Let us know by using the Contact Us page.
Thanks for reading, and see you next month.
Unlocking motivation with Discussions
Staying motivated on any journey, especially in personal growth and change, can be difficult. To address this, we have included a feature in Ake called Discussions. This feature allows direct communication between the Men’s Behaviour Change Programme clinician and service users, helping participants stay connected and engaged with the intervention.
Discussions are akin to having a message board dedicated to the intervention right in your pocket. They enable clinicians to send messages directly to service users individually or as part of a group. This opens up various options for facilitators to maintain engagement outside programme sessions, such as sending timely reminders, providing helpful resources, offering personalised encouragement, and promoting help-seeking behaviours. You can invite users to explore specific content within the app, share their thoughts on something discussed in the previous session, or suggest something to consider before the next session, which you can follow up on in person. With more time in the programme, service users may feel more comfortable working together and use the space provided by Ake to talk about their experiences and share resources.
If you notice that engagement with the discussions you’ve posted, or the app in general, is low among some users, this presents an opportunity for conversation with those participants. You can express curiosity about their experiences and address any issues accordingly. You can also check out our engagement guide at our Ake support website for more tips.
By fostering the habit of checking in with the app and engaging in discussions, participants develop a stronger connection with the programme, the material, and, ultimately, the efforts towards family well-being and safety.
Are you curious about how Ake can enhance your behaviour change programme? Get in touch for a demonstration.
Introducing Ake – The friend in your pocket for change
Built from 40+ years of experience in the domestic, family and sexualised violence intervention field, Ake has been designed as a toolkit for helping men’s behaviour change programme staff engage with participants and keep the pressure on behaviour change and family well-being outside of sessions.
The app benefits both participants of behaviour change programmes and the staff. Participants have access to a vast library of video, audio, and written content that is bite-sized and covers various intervention topics, all focused on emotional regulation, accountability, and family well-being. The idea is to bolster enrichment from the programme by providing further exposure to key intervention themes, accessible 24/7. Programme staff can utilise features that enable them to create and facilitate in-app group discussions, prepare participants for sessions by sending them content, and gain insights into content engagement by their participants using the app.
The 2025 Pilot
Starting in February, we will begin our pilot with several agencies in New Zealand, who have graciously agreed to support our evaluation of Ake by incorporating the app into their services. This pilot is intended to run for approximately 21 weeks, with access to the app also available for participants who complete the programme beyond that timeframe. The evaluation aims to identify Ake’s strengths and weaknesses and assess how useful both staff and programme participants found the app during the pilot.
We are looking forward to sharing updates and learnings on this blog. Stay tuned!
Are you curious how Ake can enhance your men’s behaviour change programme? Request a demonstration.
End