The 2007 National Men and Family Relationship Forum, to be held in Adelaide on 2-5 October, will showcase the range of services that have developed across Australia and provide practitioners opportunities to network together and explore new developments in programs for men and families.

The theme for the 2007 Forum is ‘Change is Happening’. The roles that men are providing in families have altered dramatically in recent years, and men are now active advocates for accessing supportive and relevant services that help themselves and their families. There is no better example of this than fatherhood. It is now recognised that many men identify fathering as something which is active, challenging, creative, irreplaceable, hard work and a central part of their life, regardless of their family situation.

Change is also happening at the provider level, with:

• Increased activities dedicated to promoting positive health outcomes for men
• A greater diversity in the number of programs dedicated to working with men
• Increased acceptance of working with men as a vocation
• Greater recognition of the diversity of male culture
• An enhanced level of contact between practitioners working with men.

But despite all this change, many Australian men are still struggling to adapt to some of the new job descriptions for what it is to be a man in the new millennium. Addressing the challenges of engaging these men will be central to the workshops conducted at this forum.

Confirmed speakers at the event include:

• Richard Fletcher – Engaging Fathers Project
• Alan Jenkins – Dulwich Centre
• Andrew King – UnitingCare Burnside Training Manager
• Jeremy Hearne – Mensline Australia Community Liaison Coordinator.

For more information please contact Jeremy Hearne, Mensline Australia, tel (03) 8371 2813 or Andrew King, UnitingCare Burnside, tel 0412 404 577 or visit www.mfrn.net.au.