Men Care Too North West Mates Collective - Building Connections One Mate at a Time
Tracks
Harbour View 1 - In-Person Only
| Thursday, November 6, 2025 |
| 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM |
Overview
Greg Smith, Men Care Too
Presenter
Mr Greg Smith
Co-ordinator
Men Care Too
Men Care Too North West Mates Collective - Building Connections One Mate at a Time
Presentation Overview
This presentation explores challenges and opportunities in supporting rural men, with a focus on unpaid carers, and encourage attendees to rethink traditional delivery of carer and more broadly, social support systems.
The Men Care Too North West Mates Collective (MCT-NWMC) is a community driven initiative in the North West region of Tasmania that seeks to address the mental health and social isolation challenges faced by men, particularly those in unpaid caregiving roles. Established through a collaboration of local and national efforts, MCT-NWMC fosters social connections, a known protective factor against poor mental health and suicide, by hosting regular, informal activities in community settings such as parks and coffee shops. These gatherings are aimed at creating opportunities for men of all ages and backgrounds to engage in conversations about mental health, caregiving, and help-seeking behaviours, particularly in rural areas.
Men in rural Tasmania face unique challenges to mental health support, including stoicism, low health literacy, and limited access to male-specific services. These challenges are often compounded by feelings of isolation, stigma, loneliness, and grief. Approximately 10% of men in Tasmania provide unpaid care with national surveys consistently showing that carer wellbeing is poor and men are less likely to seek formal support due to existing systemic, structural and individual barriers.
Working collaboratively with national initiatives Mr Perfect, The Man Walk and R U OK?, MCT-NWMC offers a unique solution by creating non-clinical spaces that promote help-seeking and mental health conversations among men. By addressing social isolation and providing peer support in an accessible, community-based context, MCT-NWMC exemplifies the power of community-led initiatives in rural mental health.
Men Care Too North West Mates Coordinator Greg Smith offers a thought-provoking presentation that blends research-based insights with personal experience to show how innovative, community-based approaches are reshaping male mental health support in rural areas.
The Men Care Too North West Mates Collective (MCT-NWMC) is a community driven initiative in the North West region of Tasmania that seeks to address the mental health and social isolation challenges faced by men, particularly those in unpaid caregiving roles. Established through a collaboration of local and national efforts, MCT-NWMC fosters social connections, a known protective factor against poor mental health and suicide, by hosting regular, informal activities in community settings such as parks and coffee shops. These gatherings are aimed at creating opportunities for men of all ages and backgrounds to engage in conversations about mental health, caregiving, and help-seeking behaviours, particularly in rural areas.
Men in rural Tasmania face unique challenges to mental health support, including stoicism, low health literacy, and limited access to male-specific services. These challenges are often compounded by feelings of isolation, stigma, loneliness, and grief. Approximately 10% of men in Tasmania provide unpaid care with national surveys consistently showing that carer wellbeing is poor and men are less likely to seek formal support due to existing systemic, structural and individual barriers.
Working collaboratively with national initiatives Mr Perfect, The Man Walk and R U OK?, MCT-NWMC offers a unique solution by creating non-clinical spaces that promote help-seeking and mental health conversations among men. By addressing social isolation and providing peer support in an accessible, community-based context, MCT-NWMC exemplifies the power of community-led initiatives in rural mental health.
Men Care Too North West Mates Coordinator Greg Smith offers a thought-provoking presentation that blends research-based insights with personal experience to show how innovative, community-based approaches are reshaping male mental health support in rural areas.
Biography
Greg Smith is a seasoned informal carer with over 20 years of lived experience supporting family members facing physical and mental health challenges. In 2017, he founded Men Care Too, a grassroots organisation advocating for the often overlooked 1 million Australian men in unpaid caregiving roles. As volunteer coordinator of the Men Care Too North West Mates, he leads male-focused community initiatives, including Mr Perfect, The Man Walk, and Men Care Too in North West Tasmania. A Community Ambassador for R U OK?, Greg champions social connection and belonging as vital protective factors against mental health issues and suicide.
