Survey Results: From Conversation to Action

Survey Results: From Conversation to Action

Below are the findings from the survey of 244 Australians, generating 575 comments across five questions.

The messages were passionate, sometimes raw, often deeply personal...

But beneath the frustration and strong language, three consistent and pragmatic themes emerged:
1️⃣ Men’s lives matter, especially in suicide prevention.
2️⃣ Men’s health funding must be proportionate and transparent.
3️⃣ Boys need education systems that work for them, not against them.

Many respondents expressed anger about family law, media narratives, or cultural messaging. Others urged calm, coalition-building, and evidence-based reform.

One comment captured the constructive path forward:
“Addressing disadvantage among boys and men is not a zero-sum exercise… it strengthens families and communities.”

Another wrote:
“Supporting men doesn’t mean stealing from women. It means acknowledging both genders face struggles.”

And another:
“Healthy societies depend on both men and women being able to contribute.”

The spirit of balance (not grievance) is where durable change lies...

Three Practical and Achievable Goals (During The Next Two Years)
After analysing all responses, three SMART, centrist, coalition-friendly goals stand out:

1️⃣ Reduce male suicide to fewer than 2,000 deaths per year
• Targeted prevention in high-risk groups
• Funded pilot programs in male-dominated workplaces
• Evidence-informed reforms, following inquiries like the ACT review of high male suicide rates
• Better data collection and accountability

This isn't abstract. It is urgent.

2️⃣ Double men’s health research funding and improve male-friendly healthcare services
• Increase NHMRC funding for Men’s Health research by 100% (there is currently 5-6 times more funding for Women's Health compared to Men's Health)
• Expand prostate cancer, mental health and preventable disease initiatives
• Deliver services that men actually use

Fair funding isn't about taking from women, it's about proportionality and transparency.

3️⃣ Improve boys’ education outcomes
• Close the large literacy gap (which is clearly visible in NAPLAN/PISA results at Year 9)
• Lift high school and trade pathway completion for boys and young men
• Increase male primary teachers from 18% towards 30%

Boys who read, complete school, and see positive male role models are far less likely to disengage later.

What Comes Next?
Advocacy must move beyond commentary. Over the coming months, I will:
• Rally support to amplify these goals to people in positions of power
• Collaborate with organisations and leaders willing to work constructively
• Seek policy discussions at forums such as the 2026 International Men’s Day Forum in Canberra
• Broaden the conversation through discussion in various media

The goal is simple: Build a broad coalition (men and women, left and right) around these three achievable reforms.

Not culture war.
Not symbolism.
Outcomes, for men and boys...

If you support these three goals (reducing male suicide, fair health funding, and improving boys’ education outcomes), then I invite you to:
✔ Share this post
✔ Comment your support
✔ Amplify these goals and build the coalition, by asking politicians/media/decision makers for these to be achieved...

When men and boys thrive, families are stronger. When families are stronger, society is more stable.

Stronger together.