Opening the floor to men’s issues

The Working with Men conference, which is run by Tauranga Kidz Need Dadz Charitable Trust is opening discussion to males issues. Photo: Supplied.

A Tauranga conference is highlighting the hard issues that males have to deal with in the workforce.

This is the second year that the Working with Men conference has been running in Tauranga and focuses on issues, such as, abuse, suicide, porn addiction, and the right of passage from boy to man-hood.

Tauranga Kidz Need Dadz Charitable Trust manager Pam Bassett says this conference is very unique as there aren't many conferences that just focus around males in the work force.

This year there will be 60 people attending the conference, from a range of disciplines, who want to further their knowledge in men's issues.

'It's a conference for anyone who is working with men or who would like to work with men, just to up skill.”

She says last year they had such a positive response that they wanted to do it again.

'A lot of them went away with more knowledge and new understandings and really just wanted to get out there to do the work.”

There will be two Australian key speakers Senior Researcher for the One in Three Campaign Greg Andersen and Director of Men's Health Services and Vice President of the Australian Men's Health Forum Greg Will.

New Zealand speakers include:

  • Ken Clearwater - Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust, Vic Tamiti Its Not OK campaign, Jon Brewerton and Terence Greenslade Essentially Men: Auckland
  • Les Simmonds - National advisor, Stand for Children Services and Private Practice as a therapist
  • Philip Chapman and David Mitchell from The Male Room
  • Ritchie Stewart- Salvation Army Oasis gambling Service: Christchurch.
  • Tim Marshall from Tauawhi Mens
  • New Zealand suicidologist professor Annette Beautra.

International speakers will be presenting for an hour and a half and New Zealand speakers for half an hour, with room for discussion.

'Over lunch and morning tea it is a really good time to network with other organisations, as well, that will be attending and see what's new in the area and what other social services with men will be doing,” says Pam.

The Tauranga Working with Men Conference will be held on August 24 and 25 at the Historic Village.

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