Celebrating the Inaugural Men’s Community of Practice
Over 55 representatives from 16 organisations came together on Jagera and Turrbal Country, to share knowledge and support at the inaugural Men’s Community of Practice.
Welcoming Ceremony
We are grateful for the deadly Derek Oram-Sandy for his Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony which culturally grounded the event and established a sense of safety for all participants
Open Yarns and Presentations
Across the two-day event, participants shared the various initiatives, learnings and programs of work happening across the state. Below is some of the content shared through open yarns, presentations and panel conversations:
Open Yarns
The scene was set on the first day by inviting participants to share what they hoped to get out of the two days being together and why they work within the Sector.
Many of the participants shared that they wanted to grow their contacts and networks, to get a sense of what other community controlled organisations were doing in their work with men, and to understand what others were doing to support men where domestic and family violence is an issue.
Participants also wanted to share with each other why men work in the sector and the changes they were keen to work more effectively with men. Everybody wanted to talk further about how to get more support and more healing for our men. There were key themes the group wanted to explore including domestic and family violence, support programs for men, leadership yarns and sharing knowledge on what is working well across the sector.
“Deadly brothers coming together” – quote from participant.
Uncle Randal Ross
The Men’s Community of Practice was honoured to have Uncle Randal Ross a Yuru/Juru, Bindal/Erub and Southsea Island man to present aspects of the Red Dust Healing work, a program he co-founded. The Red Dust healing incorporates tools and methods to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men heal. Uncle’s presentation took us on a journey starting from the beginning of time, with our cultural governance, lores, customs and practices as men and how important they are to our ways of knowing, doing and being. His presentation highlighted the impact of colonisation and how it has broken them down. Uncle encouraged us that we need to restore our role within the family and empowered us to take our place back in families as was intended through a process of healing. Uncle touched on the important role of matriarchs to supporting men, before creating space for Aunty Madeline Lea to share her story on the role of the matriarch.
Uncle Randal also shared the work he had done and continues to do with the Garbutt Magpies. The Garbutt Magpies were established to help youth and young people involved in the criminal justice system to find their place in community, to engage in sports, such as AFL and healthy activities, and in doing so connect them to culture, community and identity. The program runs an AFL competition that draws all community together. It involves Elders and leaders and has been going now for over 10 years. Of recently, it has drawn several organisations eager to sponsor the event because of the significant impact on the Garbutt community in Townsville.
Gidgee Healing
Brodie, Sam, Kieran and John from Gidgee Healing presented their On Country Men’s Health and Wellbeing Camp. During their presentation the men shared how the camps started, how they host their camps and the positive impact it was having on men from Mt Isa, Doomadgee and Normanton.
The importance of being on country, practising cultural ways and men’s business resonated with participants and their reflections and photos really helped frame the story of their journey. We were shown a powerpoint presentation of the men going out camping and hunting on country, how the men’s group has grown each year since its commencement. Participants found their stories and the testimonies were powerful, and we could see from the photos the impact it was having.
“Gidgee just opened my eyes of what ‘culturally appropriate’ and ‘culturally driven’ truly is. It was inspirational to witness what some of my younger brothers were able to achieve under their own steam. they just went ahead with their vision and worked it all out as they went along” – quote from participant.
AIDRWA
AIDRWA shared inspirational stories and photos of their Red Bench Project done in conjunction with Ngukulthati. The red benches were a project that started from a group of women leading a demonstration march in Mount Isa to raise awareness of domestic and family violence. Participants heard from Garry and Phill about the impact this project was having on Aboriginal men in community, photos were shared to highlight their work and each had a special story attached. This project continues to give mob opportunities to contribute to the construction of red benches in the Mt Isa community and they’re donated to a variety of community spaces across Mt Isa and Queensland.
Wuchopperen + Kurbingui
Both organisations yarned about their innovative approaches to providing support to youth and families in their respective communities. Wuchopperen presented information on working with youth and young people within their Youth Participation Program, Cultural Mentoring and supporting On Country. The Wuchopperen Team also spoke about continuing to increase their work with young people in the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre as part of young people’s transitions back to community. Kurbingui spoke to their Numula Family Safety Response Program which is designed to provide culturally responsive support to families impacted by domestic and family violence.
Panel Conversations
On the second day, QATSICPP’s deadly Justin Power facilitated a yarn with attendees and a panel of men working in a variety of our organisations across the state. We had Rex Burke and Uncle Les Drahm from RAATSICC, Wayne Ah-Sam from Kambu, Scott Hookway from Yulu-Burri-Ba and Jamie Gibson from Wuchopperen up the front to share their experiences as men working the sector. The panel expressed their collective drive and desire to create healing and achieve the change needed to make sure we keep or bring our children back into our communities.
The panel talked about challenges they faced in their work, overcoming the fear in communities about services and building trust, and being inspired by the resourceful and resilient families they worked with. Participants shared experiences of burn out and highlighted the importance of self-care, and the importance of cultural practice in providing an alternative to the statutory system that too often let down Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. At the end of the yarn there was a collective feeling and expression of the significance and uniqueness of the men’s community of practice itself, and a pride in the work that men across the sector were doing.
“I thought I was done with this work, but then you come down here and you see all the knowledge in this room – I’m awestruck” – quote from participant.
Workshops
Workshop sessions were an opportunity for everyone to come together and discuss key topics of interest to strengthen practice and explore what’s happening in the workforce strategy space.
Strengthening Our Responses to Support Men and Mob in Community
This explored men’s established ways of working which was about reclaiming culture with a key focus on empowerment and healing. Participants also share lived personal and professional experiences and how cultural wisdom is always considerate of men’s and women’s business.
Workforce Yarn
Reno French shared some of the data and themes that have emerged through the consultations with the sector to date in the Workforce Strategy project. This workshop and open yarn were around potential opportunities and supports organisations could consider when working with and recruiting men to the sector. Participants voiced that it would be helpful for more male specific roles, have the option to receive direct support and supervision from other men in the sector, and consider how to support men wanting to enter the workforce.
Workforce – What is working?
The men discussed what is working within the sector, and that sector has the cultural expertise to work with families and connect children back with extended families. The men felt as though cultural knowledge is valued in the sector. Working on country was seen as a positive way for mob to heal while working while strengthening their own communities.
Future planning
The group was asked what they would like to see into the future to support the sectors’ growth and development. The group has said they would like more promotion of the good work being done across the sector; they would like further support groups for men to be supported within the sector. It would be great to have opportunities for safe spaces for men to talk about their mental health and Well-being. There was a push towards empowering local role models thought media and pushing for a positive outlook on the importance of good fathers through different media platforms.
“It was great to hear other men talk about the sector that they are so passionate about’ – quote from participant.
Where to from here
There was a hunger for further gatherings, a recognition of the men who were unable to attend this one, and strong and clear calls to action to improve services and supports for men. Participants were intentional about maintaining the new connections created at this event and committed to continue supporting each other.
Participants also expressed a desire to connect more with QATSICPP to help inform and drive the ongoing reform of legislation, policies and systems to create environments for men and programs aimed at supporting men. We welcome you to share your knowledge and experiences with our team via the details below and encourage participants to stay connected via the contact details shared amongst those who attended.
“Such a special event. Healing and cup is full. I’m feeling strong” – quote from participant.
Want to know more?
Visit the full photo gallery here. If you would like more information about the Men’s Community of Practice or want to provide other feedback, please contact our team:
Their specific areas of work have also been included for your info.
Justin Power justinpower@qatsicpp.com.au (Youth Justice & Justice Reinvestment)
Lenny Dahlen lennydahlen@qatsicpp.com.au (Cultural engagement)
Arnold Simpon arnoldsimpson@qatsicpp.com.au (Family Caring for Family Program)
Reno French renofrench@qatsicpp.com.au (Workforce Strategy)
Lucas Moore lucasmoore@qatsicpp.com.au (Advocacy and strategy)
Matthew Peacey matthewpeacey@qatsicpp.com.au (Youth Justice)
