Australia has spent decades trying to get men into mental health services—yet suicide remains the leading cause of death for men aged 25 to 49. Why? Because the systems built to support men often fail to connect with them. Torque It Out is a community-led, no-frills initiative that flips the script and meets men where they already are—at the hardware store, in the tyre shop carpark, under the bonnet of a car.
Delivered through Wheelnutz Garage, a social enterprise in South East Queensland, Torque It Out is not just another program—it’s a disruptor. We’ve stripped away the sterile offices, complicated referral pathways, and medicalised language that keep men at arm’s length. Instead, we’ve created spaces that feel safe, relatable, and familiar, embedding peer workers and mental health professionals into real-life environments where trust and conversation happen naturally.
From walk-in, no-appointment-needed support in the garage, to roadside outreach in a branded 4WD, to mental health pit stops at car shows—our approach is not only radically accessible, it’s also highly replicable. With minimal infrastructure, a clear understanding of male culture, and strong community buy-in, Torque It Out is a model that any region in Australia could roll out.
Backed by the Brisbane South PHN and co-designed with men in high-risk occupations and communities, the program uses everyday language, plainspoken resources, and lived experience to cut through stigma and start real conversations. The "Fella’s Guides" and the Trusted Mates program further build community capacity by giving everyday blokes the confidence to check in on their mates and know what to do next.
This presentation will showcase how Torque It Out is successfully engaging men who would never walk into a clinic—and doing it without bureaucracy, waiting lists or clinical coldness. We’ll explore how this low-cost, high-impact model is not only working, but also scalable across the country. If we’re serious about reducing suicide among Australian men, we need to stop trying to fix broken systems and start building new ones—ones that look more like a car meet than a counselling office.