The MAN 2008 Conference will build on the achievements of the first conference held in 2006 in identifying issues that need to be addressed by governments and other agencies, the community and the many groups working on behalf of men and boys.

The needs of men for specific services in health, parenting, relationships, work-life balance, mental health and so many other areas are not being adequately met. Unlike the hard won service provisions for women, there is no coordinated policy framework for men.

Awareness of the needs of men and boys is low and poorly understood and promotion of the benefits to the broader community is inadequate in helping men lead better lives.

As well as influencing policy and decision makers, the Conference will be an important learning experience for all those who work with men and boys.

It will examine the making of men through all stages from babies to blokes, focusing on what we can do to enrich the journey - and care for those whose path is especially difficult.

The conference is to be outcome orientated and is aimed at achieving the following outcomes:

• To build on the first conference in making a major shift in men’s culture, which is seen as necessary to improving the wellbeing of the whole community.

• To establish the directions and actions that will be taken by the various stakeholders in achieving this change.

The conference will address the following questions:

• What are the gaps in our knowledge?

• What can we do in the short-term?

• What can we do in the long-term?

• What are the issues for governments to address?

• What are the issues for MAN and other organisations to address?

All presenters are requested to make at least one or two recommendations for future action and if appropriate nominate the stream in which they wish to be included.

The following outcomes are sought:

- Identify the conditioning of infant boys into desirable and undesirable modes of masculine behaviour.

- How can we care for the infant boy while developing his masculinity?

- Understand the need for nurturing by both parents.

- Understand the important role of the family in the raising of boys, particularly fathers and other significant adult males.

- Understand the biological and social differences between boys and girls, the different rates of development and learning styles, the need to adjust teaching styles to the gender of pupils, plus the role community organisations can play in the development of boys.

- Understand the important role that fathers and other significant adult males play in providing appropriate models of manhood to adolescent males, the need for appropriate rites of passage in today’s society, through the development of self-awareness and consideration of the needs of others.

- The need for young men to establish their autonomy and independence through opportunities to meet and master challenges and develop a vision or dream for their life.

- Understand the emotional upheaval of adolescence, the role that mentors play, foster a sense of citizenship within the young male and assist young men to appreciate the differences between males and females.

- Understand the changing nature of work and men’s roles in modern Australian society.

- Assist employers and employees to facilitate a balance between work, relationships and personal interests.

- Understand the spiritual dimension of a man’s being as the foundation to having sound relationships with others.

- Understand the skills that men require in developing sound relationships.

- Support men in their role as parents through promoting positive fathering and encouraging cooperative parenting, plus understand the important role that a father’s positive involvement plays in raising a well adjusted child.

- Recognise the importance of positive ageing and the differences in the needs of men from various backgrounds.

- Explore the implications of retirement on the one hand and extended working life on the other.

- Recognise the importance of the mentoring of adolescent males and younger men and support the needs of older men who wish to be volunteers.

- Recognise the importance of contact groups to sustain and support older men.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND        2008 overview        2008 objectives        why MAN08 is important

This Conference will be of interest to all people working in areas associated with men and boys.

WHY MAN 2008 IS IMPORTANT       2008 overview        2008 objectives       who should attend