Michael Liddle and co presenter Martin Hagan will discuss the intricacies of the Codes 4 Life program, an Aboriginal men's program that seeks to address and curb unlawful behavior stemming from alcohol and substance abuse, including drink driving, domestic violence and sexual assault. The program drives reformation and personal change by delivering workshops designed to reconnect Aboriginal men with their cultural responsibilities and find strength in one's role in their community. Embracing culture helps men understand their place in the world and their obligations to family, community, law and country. All workshops are designed and facilitated by Program Founder Michael Liddle supported by Project Officers and overseen by Aboriginal Elders or Senior Community leaders. Codes 4 Life also works closely with the police and community support programs to effectively deliver comprehensive programs. Participants are often plagues with questions surrounding their identity. Codes 4 Life channels uncertainty about cultural identity into a sense of leadership by instilling a sense of responsibility to culture and community. The workshops incorporate various engagement methods such as presentations, group talks, activities and showing video clips. They create a space for Aboriginal men to hold the hard conversations around domestic and family violence that otherwise may not take place, seek advice and guidance, and express difficult emotions with their peers in a safe, empowering setting. Martin Hagan specializes in how connection to culture shapes men's identity through identity signaling in shields, relationships, kinship, ancestral ties, and ceremonial obligations focusing on assisting men to reconstruct their identity to improve health and social emotional wellbeing and to curb domestic and family violence through drawing on cultural tools to reconnect men with their families, children and communities.

Key Learnings:

Men who have participated in Codes 4 Life present three key learnings:
1. First is the desire to stay out of trouble.

2. Second, several men indicated that they wanted to get a job.

3. Third, the intention to change their life.
To curb family and domestic violence is critical that men have opportunities to reflect and think about their behaviours.