The vision of MARS is to create stronger communities through greater involvement of men in social and cultural life. MARS envisages community and service organisations fully integrating men into their work, and working with men to help them identify and build on their strengths.
In the NSW Hunter region we have two strategies in place:
- working directly with men in the community
- supporting service providers to be more approachable and accessible to men.
Our work with men is focused on establishing opportunities to promote healthy, respectful and creative expressions of manhood. Working with men from our community, MARS is co-ordinating various photography, art and writing projects in partnership with local organisations.
We also support services in the Hunter to be more approachable and accessible to men. MARS works with organisations to improve their policies and incorporate male-inclusive best practice principles into their work environment. We organise forums for local practitioners to hear latest research and discuss current issues relevant to men. Our current research is focused on the best ways to engage men as fathers in making a difference to the quality and happiness of children’s lives.
Men's sheds
Community Men’s Sheds are about men feeling useful and contributing again to their communities. They provide new avenues among males for learning or sharing skills, making friends, networking and availing themselves of health information programs and opportunities. Click here to read more about Men's Sheds.
Useful information for men and fathers
We’re developing a suite of materials that will help men to find out about services in their local area. We've produced:
- a wallet-sized Blokes Card which lists emergency contact numbers
- a series of posters called Our Men, Our Community to promote a positive image of men and fathers
- a Blokes Booklet that provides a range of useful information and contacts. Two editions are now available: Blokes Booklet -Central Coast and also Blokes Booklet - Manning Great Lakes.
Web-based resources
We've also compiled a list of some websites that provide information for men and fathers (shown in alphabetical order):
Aboriginal Men’s Health: www.ahmrc.org.au
Australian Camp Connect Association: www.campconnect.org.au
Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse: www.aifs.gov.au/afrc
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet: www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au
Boys Learning: www.boyslearning.com.au
Centre for Advancement of Men's Health: www.mannet.com.au/camh/index.htm
Dads and Daughters: www.dadsanddaughters.org
Family Court Counselling: www.familycourt.com.au
Family Relationships Online: www.familyrelationships.gov.au
Fatherhood Foundation: www.fatherhood.org.au
Manhood Online: www.manhood.com.au
Mens Health Australia (National web portal for issues relating to men’s health): www.menshealthaustralia.net
Men's Health Services www.menshealthservices.com.au
Mensheds Australia Ltd: www.mensheds.com.au
Men's Sheds in Australia (National site for information on the Community Mens Sheds): www.mensshed.org
Peer Leadership Australia: www.peerleadership.com.au
Postnatal depression information and resources for men and families: www.postpartummen.com and www.postpartum.net
Raising Children Network (Australian Parenting website): www.raisingchildren.net.au
Uncle Project - Mentoring for Youth: www.uncle.org.au
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia: www.vvaa.org.au
If you know of any additional web-based resources that we can share with other men, please contact us.
MARS is funded by the NSW Department of Community Services as part of the Area Assistance Scheme.
MARS
John Roberts, Men's Worker
PO Box 111
Wyong NSW 2259
M: 0420 959 004