Preface
This introductory guide is one of the designated outcomes from the 2007 National Men and Family Relationships (MFR) Forum and articulates the core issues discussed at that event. The guide provides an interactive and user-friendly tool for practitioners who are new to working specifically with male clients and their family relationships. This guide is designed to compliment face-to-face training workshops on working with men. It provides information for engaging with men across a variety of disciplines, and some insight into the skills, challenges and best practice models currently being utilised both nationally and internationally in working with men.
The guide will support a wide range of practitioners working with men across the community sector. In particular, this document might be popular within Family Relationship Centres where a significant new workforce is engaging with men through early intervention and post-separation services. Everyone is encouraged to read through all six sections of the guide, rather than pick out different bits. This is because certain theoretical ideas (like generativity) are weaved throughout the whole six topics.
The six topics include:
- Introduction to working with men.
- Working with men as fathers.
- Skills used when working with men.
- Working with men and culture.
- ‘Once were hunters and gatherers’ – working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.
- Working with men in different contexts.
The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) has funded the development of this guide. By investing in such resources FaHCSIA is helping services providers to work with families in a way that is more inclusive of fathers. These resources support a broad range of services that FaHCSIA funds for men and their families including Men and Family Relationship Services which provide relationship counselling, education and skills training, support, conflict resolution and case management services and Mensline Australia.
Acknowledgements
In developing the content of this guide, FaHCSIA appreciates the dedicated work of the following people:
Andrew King
Gabrielle Borggaard
Jeremy Hearne
Jonathan Nanlohy
Mary Mertin-Ryan
Ray McMinn
Raymond Lenton
Ross Fletcher
Sandip Bhattacharjee
Steve Sutton
Stuart Anderson
Wendy Sturgess
In addition, appreciation is given to the following workshop convenors and practitioners at the 2007 National Men and Family Relationship Forum whose workshop feedback has been built into this induction program:
Andrew King
Daniel Moss
Dr Khairy Gajeed
Evyn Webster
Gabrielle Borggaard
Ray Lenton
Rob Boyle
Ross Fletcher
Steve Sutton
Stuart Anderson
Terry Melvin
Vicky Booth
Icon
used in the guide
This icon is used to highlight the principles and activities that can be adopted when working with men and/or how practitioners can apply what has been discussed.
You will find one of these at the conclusion of each topic.