MenAble INC

14/11/2025

Power with a contemporary lens.

12/11/2025

Evidence emerging as to the highly positive benefits of the man walk.

The report recommends scaling up community-based programs like The Man Walk, prioritising social connection and tailoring support for vulnerable groups.

12/11/2025

Leadership is the capacity of a community to shape its future.

Wise words on the collective work we can all be doing in our worlds. MenAble's work with men and boys included.

The two essential components for effective leadership today.

07/11/2025

Interesting research out this week highlighting some of the issues for teenage boys in Australia.
The Adolescent Man Box study by The Men’s Project at Jesuit Social Service surveyed 1401 14 to 18 yr old Australian boys this year.
Key findings included:
1. Pressures to be manly remain strong – More than 60% expect teenage boys to be many confident and strong at all times.
2. Most boys are open minded about what it means to be a man- support for rigid norms weaker but approx. 1 in 7 condone violence and control in s*x and relationships.
3. Boys are more likely than girls to believe in masculine norms – both agree that significant societal pressure exists concerning these.
4. More boys think boys have it harder than girls – some may have genuine sources others more around more extreme groups, particularly online.
5. Parents and peers’ views have a large effect on boys’ attitude to masculinity
6. The stronger the masculine norms, the more harmful – stronger rigid masculinity views equate to less help seeking behaviour, negative views of DV victims, consume violent po*******hy and cause harm to others.

While boys’ adherence to masculine ideals is weakening, many still feel intense pressure to conform to it.

06/11/2025

Good to catch up with the ever inspiring Kendall Whyte OAM from The Blue Tree Project. Keynote speaker at Day 2 of the WA Rural and Remote Mental Health conference.
Kendall continues to grow her activities and remarkable impact helping spark conversations and kick the stigma of mental health.
I enjoyed presenting at the conference on the topic of "Fostering character for teenage boys" for MenAble Australia Inc. Appreciated an enaged audience who were keen to explore this challenging issue in today's world.

23/10/2025

If you are in the Margaret River area on 15th Nov or 13th Dec, join our colleagues from the Barbarian Group and Happiness Co Foundation for this free community event.

21/10/2025

Many great insights and strong participant engagement across 2 events presented by MenAble (with a range of partners supporting) last night.
A community event on Tech and Youth Wellbeing and a health professional event on innovation and collaboration in the care of neurodiverse youth.
Thanks to key presenter Jarek (Jaroslaw) Hryniewicki and panel members Vanessa Millar, Angela Griffin and Jenna Buckton.
Thanks to supporting partners Rural Health West 's South West Health Professionals Network, Voix - Clinical Studio, Shelter Brewing Co and Rio Tinto

13/10/2025

Thanks to the crew who nominated me for this.
Personally I don't consider any of my men's health work to be a function of my solo effort.
The team with which we have got so much done with The Man Walk and MenAble over the past 6 years is what it is really about. Thanks to all those I have worked with and continue to do so.
Please take the opportunity to vote for this if you feel inclined to and it will indeed serve to highlight the collaboration involved with The Man Walk and MenAble.
https://www.amhf.org.au/mens_health_awards_2025

09/10/2025

Announcing the panel for the Tech and Youth Wellbeing: The Good The Bad and The Ugly free community event on 20th October.
Joining leading WA Child and Youth Psychiatrist, Dr Jaroslaw (Jarek) Hryniewicki will be:
Jenna Buckton – School Psychologist
Vanessa Millar – Youth Lifestyle Coach, VOIX
Angella Griffin – Youth Services leader, City of Busselton

Free event at Shelter from 6.30pm on Monday 20th October.

Registration required. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1586045447629?aff=oddtdtcreator

Panel members

Jenna Buckton has more than10 years’ experience as a school psychologist working across the Kimberley and South West.
She has worked in both primary and high school settings, supporting learning, behaviour, and mental health.
As well as counselling youth, Jenna presents a number of accredited courses for youth, educators, parents and mental health professionals in areas ranging from mental health first aid, child behaviour and su***de prevention. She is passionate about adolescent mental health and wellbeing and currently works as a key member of a high school student services team.
Jenna is committed to building strong rapport with young people and understanding their unique experiences as she supports them to develop the foundations for adult life in a changing world.

Vanessa Millar (she/her) is the Operations Manager at Voix and a Youth Lifestyle Coach. Over the past decade, she’s worked across a range of mental health organisations and is currently developing Voix Studio, a space where young people can play, experiment, and feel safe to find their voice. As a Youth Lifestyle Coach, Vanessa supports young people to understand themselves better and find balance in their day-to-day lives, exploring areas like sleep, mindset, nutrition, and wellbeing. She’s passionate about meeting young people where they’re at, and sharing tools for them to uncover their strengths, set goals that matter, and build the confidence to live life on their terms.

Angela Griffin has spent the past 10 years transforming lives through youth work, she has been pivotal in the establishment of two youth safe spaces for the City of Busselton. Ange has also championed youth leadership initiatives helping to create future leaders, and for the past 5 years stood beside young people at risk offering guidance, support and hope.

Dr Jaroslaw (Jarek) Hryniewicki is a father and child/adolescent psychiatrist with 25 years of experience. He feels a profound responsibility to assist young people in navigating the unprecedented uncertainties they face today. With generations Z (12-24) and Alpha (0-12) being confronted with social upheaval, geopolitical instability, and rapid digital transformation challenges, he is aware that traditional clinical approaches are often not enough.

Jarek is the Founder and Director of Voix, a Perth based clinical services that genuinely meets young people where they are. His goal is to provide meaningful access to mental health support while fostering emotional resilience. In his work Jarek prioritises building rapport and creating meaningful connections over standardised treatments in creating a new model of Psychiatric care.

06/10/2025

As Board Chair of MenAble I was honoured to be part of the panel discussion on the film "Just a Farmer" at the opening of Bunbury's Mental Health Week program.
A farmer dies by su***de every 10 days in Australia.
This film charts one such scenario and it's impact on a family and community. A challenging but important film highlighting the devastation, but also increasing understanding around what too often goes wrong around men's mental health. Particularly in rural communities.

30/09/2025

MenAble are pleased to be supporting Mental Health Week initiatives in the Southwest.
MenAble Chair David Barton will be part of a panel discussion following the Bunbury screening of the film "Just a farmer".
The film tackles the subject of su***de and mental health in a farming community.
See flyer for booking details.

24/09/2025

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