Goldfields Men's Bush Trips
Tracks
Dingo Room: In-Person Only
| Monday, October 20, 2025 |
| 2:45 PM - 3:05 PM |
| Dingo Room (M4) |
Overview
Stephen Morrison, Hope Community Service
Presenter
Stephen Morrison
Aboriginal Cultural Practice And Capability Manager
Hope Community Service
Goldfields Men's Bush Trips
Presentation Overview
The Men’s Bush Trips started in March 2021 as a way of connecting with men and yarning about issues that are important to our Men in a relaxed bush environment. Since then, the word has got out that it’s worth going along to Men’s Bush Trips - to light a fire, cook some food, go for a wander, have a laugh, learn helpful things for life and build support for each other.
The trips take men out bush throughout the Goldfields region, where they can connect with other men. This is a culturally-safe space where they can yarn about difficult issues – like Family and Domestic Violence, relationship breakdown, grief and loss, suicide, mental health, love for family and children etc.. These Yarning sessions provide men with tools, strategies, and activities they can use to bring peace to troubled situations and help others who need supports. We have these Men’s Bush Trips to help us create a safe place where we can talk openly about issues such as Suicide (prevention, intervention, and post-support) and where to find the relevant support.
We have also created a Men’s Bush Trip booklet (Community Support Guide) from the Men’s Bush Trip journeys from 2021–2023, 2023 and 2024... what we got up to, what we talked about, the steps Goldfields men have taken towards wellbeing and health and information about the services provided by Mara Pirni Healing Place, Hope Community Services, and other organisations in the Goldfields region. We place these everywhere throughout community, so everyone can see what were up to.
The Men’s Bush Trips was named the winner of the Partnership Award at the 2023 Strong Spirit, Strong Mind Aboriginal Alcohol and Other Drug Awards at the WANADA Conference (WA Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies) in May this year.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Demonstrate how to proactively build up men's wellbeing and health.
2. Learn how to prevent & interrupt harmful patterns of behaviour with men who use violence: Breaking cycles of incarceration, violence & abuse.
3. Learn how to run a successful program with next to no funding.
The trips take men out bush throughout the Goldfields region, where they can connect with other men. This is a culturally-safe space where they can yarn about difficult issues – like Family and Domestic Violence, relationship breakdown, grief and loss, suicide, mental health, love for family and children etc.. These Yarning sessions provide men with tools, strategies, and activities they can use to bring peace to troubled situations and help others who need supports. We have these Men’s Bush Trips to help us create a safe place where we can talk openly about issues such as Suicide (prevention, intervention, and post-support) and where to find the relevant support.
We have also created a Men’s Bush Trip booklet (Community Support Guide) from the Men’s Bush Trip journeys from 2021–2023, 2023 and 2024... what we got up to, what we talked about, the steps Goldfields men have taken towards wellbeing and health and information about the services provided by Mara Pirni Healing Place, Hope Community Services, and other organisations in the Goldfields region. We place these everywhere throughout community, so everyone can see what were up to.
The Men’s Bush Trips was named the winner of the Partnership Award at the 2023 Strong Spirit, Strong Mind Aboriginal Alcohol and Other Drug Awards at the WANADA Conference (WA Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies) in May this year.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Demonstrate how to proactively build up men's wellbeing and health.
2. Learn how to prevent & interrupt harmful patterns of behaviour with men who use violence: Breaking cycles of incarceration, violence & abuse.
3. Learn how to run a successful program with next to no funding.
Biography
My name is Stephen Morrison, I am a Koreng Noongar (Katanning W.A.) on my Mother’s side, Goonyiandi (Fitzroy Crossing W.A.) on my Father’s side, have been married for 19yrs and have 4 children. I have been living in the Goldfields since 2001 and have held many leadership roles throughout my region.
My current role develops and implements First Nations strategies, projects, framework, and initiatives into our workplace. I also coordinate the Men’s Bush Trips, in and around the Goldfields Region, and facilitate SafeTALK/SafeYARN and ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), with LivingWorks Australia whenever the opportunity is given.
