Mensline Australia is aware that family and relationship problems can affect all Australian men across all cultures. As part of our commitment to responding appropriately to a broad range of cultural groups, including the Aboriginal community, we have developed a number of initiatives to improve our service delivery.

Between March 2007 and April 2008 through the implementation of the Cultural X Change Project we will be engaging with Aboriginal communities and service providers from targeted locations around Australia with the aim of listening to the needs of the men in these communities as well as promoting the Mensline Australia program. The outcome of this process of engagement will be an increased level of community awareness of the Mensline Australia program as well as an increased understanding of the issues that impact upon Aboriginal men and their families.

Targeted activities that will support the development of the program include:

• Listening circles that provide an opportunity for Aboriginal men to identify and express their family and relationship needs and issues
• The delivery of training to the counselling staff at Mensline Australia on engaging in a culturally appropriate way with the Aboriginal community
• The development of culturally specific tip sheets
• The production of a website dedicated to Aboriginal men and their families
• The development of digital stories that illustrate, through the use of multi media, significant family and relationship stories from Aboriginal men
• A moderated online forum that provides opportunities for Aboriginal men to engage and discuss, with the support of our Aboriginal Community Liaison Workers, on family and relationship issues specific to them

For more information on any aspect of this program please contact:

Darren Atkinson — Aboriginal Community Liaison Worker, Melbourne 03 8371 2800

Cleavon Davis — Aboriginal Community Liaison Worker, Brisbane 07 3890 5033

Jeremy Hearne — Project Coordinator 03 8371 2813