The Gathering 2026
Description
The Gathering is a weekend event for men of all ages run by the Centre for Men and Families Australia. A lot has been said about toxic masculinity and the damage it does in our society. The Gathering is a celebration of healthy masculinity where men can be equipped to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Whether you are new to the CFMF community, or a regular face, there will be something for you. The Gathering will include electives and workshops to help you navigate the beauty and pain of life as a man, along with plenty of time to relax, unwind and connect.
Keynote Speaker: David Tensen
David Tensen is an Australian poet, author, and teacher known for his evocative and soulful writing. Blending elements of personal experience, spirituality, and deep empathy, David’s poetry has gained widespread acclaim for its capacity to touch the human spirit - offering readers solace and connection in times of struggle and growth. With a background in leadership, pastoral care, and emotional healing, David brings a unique blend of compassion and insight to his craft, which is evident in both his public speaking and four published collections. David is married to Natalie, has 3 young adult children, and lives on the Sunshine Coast where he currently spends his work-week in aged care chaplaincy, lecturing, and completing a PhD at UniSC.
Discover more at www.davidtensen.com
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Includes: All meals, accommodation, bedding and speaker and elective sessions.
Day Sessions – Saturday from 7.30am to 10pm. Sunday from 7.30am to 3pm
If you are travelling from interstate and need airport transfers your flights must arrive PRIOR to 2pm on Friday 22nd May and leave AFTER 4pm (preferably 5pm) on Sunday 24th June
Note: if you would like to pay by direct debit please email admin@cfma.org.au for details on how to do this.
Lineup
Darren Lewis - Topic - The Fathering Journey
It can be easy to become a father… but actually being the father your children need you to be is something entirely different. Most men’s role as a father was shaped in response to the role that their fathers had played, for good, or for bad. There are 3 fundamental moves in the game of Volleyball… the Dig, the Set, and the Spike. And there are 3 fundamental moves to discover and implement in our journey to becoming the fathers our sons want to one day become, and the fathers our daughters will want their future husbands to become… also the Dig, the Set, and the Spike.
Noni & David Yates - Topic - The Impact And Injury Of Infidelity, is there hope Beyond Betrayal?"
At Centre for Men and Families – The Gathering 2026, David and Noni will present Dr Omar Minwallas Deceptive Sexuality Trauma Model with an overview of The 10 Steps to Infidelity, the three behavioural phases —Covert, Exposure, and Symptom Progression—whilst also addressing the gigantic elephant in the room, that deceptive sexuality is a two-part problem. Their presentation will illuminate how secrecy develops, escalates, and creates harm. They will also deliver The Impact Presentation, the sobering yet widely overlooked and misunderstood reality as to how infidelity affects partners, children, and the wider family system.
David Cluff - Topic - The Compelling Stories of the False Self
What participants will experience: This workshop will interactively engage attendees, deepening their self-awareness specific to self-talk, reactivity, and relational triggers. Our thinking processes have ways of launching into convincing narratives in response to ‘trivial to major’ life happenings. Ideally, those who participate will be quicker to tune into the False Self rhythms through the gift of awareness and from the solid base of True Self.
Janet & Rebekah Mumford - Topic - Peering into the world of women
This workshop will focus on a Woman’s Journey of Transformation, looking at some of the differences and experiences in life that are uniquely felt by women. Mindful that many in Janet’s generation experienced a different journey to those in younger generations Rebekah and Janet will look at some of the disparities that are currently being experienced by younger generations of women as well as some of the core similarities in their journeys.
Jarrod McKenna - Topic - Radicalised: Young Men, Hateful Ideologies and the Cry for a Better Story
Did you hear that since January, there have been two failed terrorist attacks in my home town of Perth? Both attacks, had they been successful, would have killed close friends of mine. A 31 year old man threw a bomb into a crowd of over 2,500 people, the majority of whom were Aboriginal Aussies. Thankfully the bomb failed to detonate and no one was killed. The other, a 20 year old man, was arrested by police before carrying out simultaneous mass casualty terror attacks targeting WA Parliament House, WA Police Headquarters, and Muslim places of worship. Both men were Aussies of European descent and radicalised online by white supremacist ideology. This workshop explores the research from leading academics on extremism with the following questions in mind: what does the peer reviewed research say is the cause of such actions? How can the average punter stand up and lead an offensive to reverse this trend? Maybe Surprisingly, the experts in the field suggest work you are interested in (by being here at the Gathering) is essential in intervening effectively to ensure the search for connection and meaning is not co-opted by hateful ideologies. These ideologies demand young men to renounce compassion, connection and neighborliness in favour of blame, hate, and violence. Come and learn how the work you are already doing can contribute to healing the hate in our society.
Tim Rose - Topic 1 - Explorations into Intimacy
What is intimacy? Have you even found yourself asking that question? For many men, intimacy = sex. What about when sex is just sex? Or when connecting doesn’t connect? This workshop invites participants to be curious, engage, and explore what intimacy is; what is needed in order for intimacy to be present; the concept of multiple intimacies; and how our needs/desires for intimacy are met, and by whom. Participants will have the opportunity to explore and reflect upon their experiencing of intimacy, and intimacy needs, within a safe, communally ‘held’ space. Discovery occurs through conversational discussion and experiential engagement where participants can opt in or out as they feel comfortable (vulnerability is encouraged and participants are invited to move outside of their comfort zones, whilst also listening to their felt sense, and experiencing to maintain safety).
Neville Starick - Topic - Getting a handle on your stress
Stress is something we all carry and is something we like to joke about. In making light of it, however, we can get to the point where we tune out our own experience of stress and just keep powering on. That can become a problem. Not attending to rising stress can have significant consequences to physical and mental health. In this workshop, we will explore what we mean when we talk about stress, bust some myths about it, identify common and unique indications that your stress is getting out of hand, and come up with some tools for managing it effectively.
Richard Fay - Topic - The Sacredness of Place
The Celts speak of thin places, geographical spaces where we experience the presence of the Divine to be palpable, as if the very ground is singing to us. First nations Australians call their land their mother. The Welsh call it hiraeth, a feeling of homesickness and grief for something that no longer exists or perhaps never existed, or a sense of a home on earth that you visit but ache for, or return to. Richard will open space for us to share our own stories of landscape as a true home, as well as trace the rich cultural and spiritual significance of place in our lives.
Tim Rose - Topic 2 - Blokes, Bullies, and Bodies
As a man, it’s likely that you’ve been subjected to, or observed bullying, or measured and judged against skewed concepts or standards of what it is to be a man, at some point in your life. Maybe you’ve been that person, the bloke, or the bully. Whether it be at school, in sports teams or recreational circles, social groups, in the workplace, your relationships, or even your family, you’ve likely been impacted in some way. And those impacts can be lasting. This experiential workshop invites participants to look below the surface and begin to explore the impacts of bullying and unhelpful standards or representations of being a man upon our bodies. Participants are invited to explore their experiencing via a variety of mindfulness-based exercises, partnered work, and body listening and movement. within a safe communal space. Discovery occurs through experiencing, exploring sensation, and reflection.
Elham Day - Topic - Cultivating Grief Skills for Personal and Communal Care
This workshop will offer a compassionate and grounded space to explore the deeply human experiences of grief, sorrow and loss. We will examine common misconceptions, myths can keep us from necessary engagement with grief - and learning to relate skilfully with grief can deepen not only a personal connection to life, but also strengthen the life of community around us.
Jarrod McKenna - Topic - The Contemplative Way: Ancient Paths for Modern Men
Most men live on surface of their lives—busy, distracted, disconnected, rarely stopping long enough to listen to what’s really going on underneath. This workshop offers a different way. Drawing from the contemplative paths found across many wisdom traditions, this session creates space to slow down, become present, and reconnect with something deeper—within ourselves and between all things. There’s no pressure to believe anything in particular. People of no faith and various faiths are more than welcome to come explore in an inquisitive and non-coercive space. The workshop will focus on direct experience—learning the ancient path of nepsis, an attentive gentleness, where we are present to what is. For men wanting to be more present to life, to loved ones, and your purpose, this is an invitation to listen… and come home.
Steve Freeman & Dieter Weinand - How to facilitate a Men’s Circle
Men’s Circles are the heart of our Men’s work at CFMF. Places to show up, check in & be heard & hear other men, sometimes even hear our own story come out of another man’s mouth in the circle. In this elective, we will cover “The Way of Council” circle process that forms the structure of what holds our groups together and also discuss other joys & challenges that can be faced in starting & continuing a Men’s Circle. This elective is good for anyone interested in circles. Whether you’ve never ran one before and are keen or curious to start one or if you’re a seasoned facilitator. There will be something for everyone. We will keep things real, by using Circle process to hold the elective & be flexible in where we go and what we cover based on who comes along & joins our elective circle. Being part of a men’s circle can be a life changing discipline of sharing your life with brothers, by facilitating one you not only get that benefit for yourself, but get to offer it to your local area & see men thrive & grow.
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