Welcome to the Men & Family Centre website

The Men & Family Centre began through the passion and concern of many men and women in the Northern Rivers of NSW community. It now offers a variety of counselling, groups and community development services to men and their families. People working at and visiting the centre enjoy a vibrant and respectful environment created by one of the Centre's central practices "Walk the Talk".

The Centre, based in Lismore NSW,  has many programs; MEND (Men Exploring New Directions), Mensline (telephone peer support), BUILD (group programs and one to one counselling), Volunteer training for projects such as the Mobile Men's Shed (outreach and publicity), Dads & Kids Playgroups and training courses for professionals.

The most popular service is MEND, a program for men and their (ex)partners who are trying to stop abusive behaviour within their relationships. Most of the programs dealing with stopping abusive behaviour are for men because it is mostly men who are asking for these programs. Some 'Women Exploring Anger' programs have been delivered in cooperation with women's services.

Mensline began in 1993 with volunteers offering telephone-based support to men and their families. It was the prevalence of calls to Mensline with themes of anger, abusive behaviour and violence that inspired the service to begin MEND in 1995.

The Mobile Men's Shed, Call Back and a Dad's & Kid's Playgroup are recent projects that are receiving acclaim as innovative and well patronised initiatives.

Most of the images on this site are provided by the Thanks Dad Photo Competition. The Men & Family Centre appreciates the spirit of cooperation demonstrated in this generousity.