By ALANA MITCHELSON
A raised awareness for domestic violence in recent times has meant there are more supports available for women, but often there are rare opportunities for males, especially the father figure, to start a new conversation or seek advice.
A Raising Confident and Respectful Sons forum aims to give men, and women alike, the opportunity to rethink their attitudes towards repairing relationships and how they react when a relationship begins to dissolve.
Providing a safe, relaxed space for audience members to ask questions and gain insightful advice, the forum will address issues of violence.
Psychologist and director of the Resilience Institute Andrew Fuller will deliver a talk, discussing stereotypes and attitudes men may have about women and the roll on effect as to how that can influence children.
It will also give dads the opportunity to look internally and reflect more generally on the father’s role as a parent.
Mr Fuller said he will speak of relationships in a more general sense as well, romantic or otherwise.
“Every close relationship has its pressure-cooker moments. I think we could all do with improved relationship smarts,“ he said.
“I think Australians are generally good at making relationships but they’re not always good at repairing them.
“Men have a very powerful voice when it comes to conversations about domestic violence and I think that’s often missed. The issue is often overly genderised.“
Mr Fuller said all adults in any form of relationship were welcome to attend as well as professionals to inform their work.
Organisers said the discussion will also touch on how a dad’s attitudes towards women can impact the way a daughter views herself and how she respects herself.
The forum starts at 7pm at Peppers The Sands Resort, Torquay, on 7 December to coincide with the Month of Action for preventing violence against women and children.
