Thursday, 23rd October National Men's Health Gathering 2025

Meet at conference venue entrance at 7am.

Hosted by The Man Walk in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health Convention. Start the day walking shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow delegates in support of men's health as we "Walk, Talk, Support! You are welcome to come wearing the t-shirts and logos of the men's health organisation you support or represent as you help us connect the men's health sector. It's the perfect way to start Day 2 of The Gathering.

Level 1, Upper Foyer @ Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane Showgrounds

Includes Welcome address from Gillian Hunt, President of the Australian Men's Health Forum

• Working with the Special Envoy for Men's Health - A conversation with Dan Repacholi MP's Chief of Staff, Chad Griffith. - Chad Griffith

Speakers include:

Professor Derek Griffith - Chair, Global Action on Men's Health
Jorgen Gullestrup - CEO, MATES In Construction
Dr "Uncle" Mick Adams - Research Fellow, Newcastle University
Jeremy Phillips-Yelland - Movember, Director, Policy & Advocacy 

• PANEL: Moving Men's Health Forward - Derek M. Griffith, Jorgen Gullestrup, Uncle Mick Adams and Jeremy Phillips-Yelland

• Safer Teams, Safer Communities: Rebuilding Men’s and Boys’ Mental Health Through Sport - Lewis Bird
• Gamified wellbeing for men. Lessons learnt building a global competition for healthy behaviours.  - Troy Flower
• Burpees, Bible and Brews with SOLiD MEN - Lance Rogers
• The Combat Mind: Why fighting might be the safest thing a man can do - Christopher M Hanlon

• Discussion: The Role of Government in Preventing Male Suicide  - Ivan Frikovic, Jeremy Phillips-Yelland and Adrian Munro

• Evaluating and scaling the Australian-Fans in Training (Aussie-FIT) men’s cardiovascular risk-reduction health behaviour change program: Lessons learned - Matthew D McDonald, Bryce Brickley and Toby Pavey
• Sports gambling and young men: What are the risks, and what needs to be done? - Vincent Mancini
• The importance of understanding the health behaviours of Australian males prior to fatherhood - Tristan Carter
• Understanding Risky Drinking in Midlife Men: Key Predictors and Implications for Preventive Health Policy - Stefano Zaccagnini
• Young Men’s Smartphone Sports Betting: Socialisation and Digitisation - Rohann Irving

• Mibbinbah empowering connections for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities - Jack T Bulman

1. Keynote Speaker: Jack Bulman CEO Mibbinbah Spirit Healing
2. Young Men’s Voices, Fatherhood, Youth and Reconnection
   How are young men navigating identity, culture, and pressures today?
   What helps men reconnect with family, Country, and culture when life takes them away?
3. How do we grow the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male leaders?
   What does collaboration look like between community, government, research and services – and how do we keep men’s voices strong in that?
4. Family Safety (FDV) & Justice
   How do we create safer families while keeping men engaged and supported?
   What works in prevention and early intervention before the justice system?
5. Mental Health & Healing dealing with grief, trauma, suicide prevention, and building strong minds.

This Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health Convention sessions may involve cultural or sensitive business.
Entry is respectfully reserved for male delegates only.
We appreciate your understanding.

• The Good the bad and the lessons - looking at real life care of Men in the community   - John Milham
• A critical paradigm shift to address the invisible impact of male homophobia on men’s suicidality irrespective of their sexual orientation or identity - Eugene Moore
• Living with Purpose: Faith, Identity and Mental Health as a Gay Man Living with HIV - Adam D Ehm
• Turning Pain into Purpose: Changing the Narrative on Boys’ Mental Health and Eating Disorders - Mia Bannister

• This is a conversation starter     - Matthew Cox and Sue Jankovic
• Feeling Disengaged: It’s Not You, It’s Me - Matthew G Lewin
• Therapy Done Differently: Embedding Lived Experience in Men’s Mental Health Support - Simon Rinne

• Tasmanian Men's Experience of Domestic Violence Perpetrated by Female Partners or Ex-Partners - Paul Campbell
• Beyond the stereotype addressing the complex realities of male homelessness mental health and domestic violence - Jason Loakes and Lisa Loakes

1. On-Country & Cultural Wellbeing - men’s cultural practices, ceremony, language, connection to land and waters as healing.
2. Digital World & Social Media – impact on young men’s identity, relationships, and wellbeing.
3. Thriving for Change: 25 Years On — Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Men Call for Bold Action from Government and Male Health Industry Stakeholders through Leadership and Collaboration.

This Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health Convention sessions may involve cultural or sensitive business.
Entry is respectfully reserved for male delegates only.
We appreciate your understanding.

• “Waves of Change: Building Resilience Through Oceanfront Mens Mental Health Hubs” - Paul Litwin
• Men in the Hood: a community-based men's wellbeing initiative - Justin Lewis
• Cultivating Mental Health Awareness: Exploring Strategies for Suicide Prevention and Supportive Culture for Men & Boys in Australia - Sean Phillip

• Activating Authentic Change: Men's LENS and the Future of Suicide Prevention Policy - Tynan Narywonczyk
• Coaching and peer support to support mental health and reduce recidivism for men in the justice system. - Jonathan Bedloe
• Preventing Suicide in Separated Dads - Pete Nicholls

• Strength & Responsibility: A Male-Led Therapeutic Program Addressing, Addiction, Emotional Wellbeing and Family Domestic Violence - John Rich
• Inspiring change building a local movement for a better way to be a man In a time of growing urgency around men’s mental health and the rising tide of domestic, family and sexual violence, Healthier Illawarra Men is building something rare: a local movement that’s genuinely shifting the conversation — and culture — around what it means to be a man.  - Julian O'Brien

• Professor Richard Fletcher of the Fathers and Families Research Program (University of Newcastle) and SMS4Dads
• Kati Gapaillard, CEO of the Fathering Project
• Tom Docking, CEO of Dads Group, update us on their important work with dads and discuss what the future holds for the fatherhood sector in Australia

Time: 6.30pm - 11.00pm
Location: Stockmen's Bar and Grill (Showgrounds)
Details: Dinner and Drinks included