The Cultural X Change Project

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 young men, 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 directly with young men in the community as well as relevant service providers with the aim of listening to the needs of the men in these communities as well as promoting the Mensline Australia service. The outcome of this process of engagement will be an increased level of community awareness of Mensline Australia, as well as an increased understanding among Mensline counsellors of the issues that impact upon young men and their families.

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

• Listening circles that provide an opportunity for young men to identify and express their family and relationship needs and issues
• The development of tip sheets that specifically target the needs of young men
• The development of this website, dedicated to young men and their families
• The production of digital stories that illustrate, through the use of multimedia, significant family and relationship stories from young men
• A moderated online forum that provides opportunities for young men to engage and discuss family and relationship issues specific to them, with the support of our Aboriginal Community Liaison Workers.