Meet our Founders
Through personal and professional experience, we joined forces in 2018 and Mens Toolbox was born. We are mothers of sons, we have partners, and we support our mates. We stand by our men.
Through personal experience we have watched our men suffer during relationship breakdowns, family separation and as victims of domestic violence. Through professional experience we recognise that men are not always the perpetrators and can be the victim of domestic and family violence. However, their story is seldom heard and their suffering is rarely acknowledged.
Our aim is to disrupt and unify with the intention of bridging the gap in support services in the knowledge that violence is not defined by gender, but by behaviour. In the current cultural and political environment support services are skewed towards women. To bring the pendulum back to centre; our focus must be on the male experience in relationship. Our hope is that ultimately products and services around relationship breakdowns, family separation and domestic and family violence will be focused on behaviour and not gender. Men are not always the perpetrator.
We are Renea Jury and Chris Richardson and our passion is providing support for men who are going through tough times.
About Mens Toolbox
Supporting men through relationship challenges, family separation and surviving domestic violence
‘We are passionate about making a difference’
Violence is not gendered. Women and men are abusers, yet men are generally nominated as the perpetrator and women are generally nominated as the victim/survivor. This results in no or limited services for men. Men report feeling underrepresented, misrepresented and alone in relationship matters. If society continues to treat these matters as gendered issues, it only increases the divide, creating more problems and solves nothing. If we want a different outcome, we need to do something different.
The facts for Australian men are clear and concerning. In Australia:
- relationship challenges, family separation and domestic violence contribute to mental health declines for men.
- the median age of marriage for men is 32.1 years [ABS,2020].
- the median age for separation for men is 40.5 years [ABS,2020].
- the median age of divorce for men is 45.9 years {ABS,2020].
- the median age of death by suicide for men is 46 [ABS,2020].
Relationship challenges, family separation processes and domestic violence against men, all have an undeniable negative influence on mental health and wellbeing. Men too deserve the opportunity to access services and products tailored to the male experience.
We here at Mens Toolbox acknowledge the gender differences in stress responses, listening styles and communication styles and how those factors influence relationships. We also acknowledge that women can be perpetrators too. Therefore, we believe a gender specific approach is required.
Our team of professionals provide evidence-based methods delivering education and tools to facilitate self-awareness to deal with life’s daily challenges and negotiate relationship ups and downs. Our aim is to help you to improve quality of life and increase self-awareness by learning more about you and how your personality, stress response, and recovery from stress; play a role in the relationship you have with yourself and those that matter. Whether it is prevention, early intervention, or treatment, we have you covered. You can find a current list of our services here: Mens Toolbox | Our Services (menstoolbox.org)
We understand that seeking support can be difficult. Which is why we have developed a suite of online courses to help men negotiate these difficult times. You can find a current list of our courses here: The Tools
Keep up to date with our socials and blogs where you will find real life stories from various anonymous clients, friends, and acquaintances, who have shared their experiences with us. For the purposes of anonymity, we have not identified any real persons. Blogs; Facebook; Instagram; TikTok; LinkedIn
Our products and services are at your fingertips, Australia wide.
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Our Commitment:
is to support men through relationship challenges, family separation and domestic violence matters.
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Our Vision:
is to bridge the gap in support services for men.
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Our Mission:
is to listen, to learn without judgment, and to believe men when others may not. We treat men like men with a solution focussed approach.
Please note, we are not a crisis support service. If your matter requires crisis support, please contact Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14 – Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention. If life is in danger, call 000 immediately.