Better men for a better world
workshops 2026
The workshops offered at Menergy are from men in our community. They come to Menergy to share their knowledge and skills with you. No facilitators are paid – indeed they also pay to attend.
These men are deeply committed to serving men and helping you attain the best out of yourself. All facilitators provide a safe and unique opportunity for you and other men to learn and be supported by those around you. It can be a very powerful and transformative experience to participate in the workshops as a group of men. At all times safety, respect and integrity are maintained for all those attending.
Not all workshops are ‘deep’ or of an emotional nature, we also encourage light-hearted, fun workshops too to decompress and relax and let our inner kid have some fun too.
During the course of the weekend workshop facilitators will get up in front of the group to explain and ‘spruik’ their workshop to you. You are not compelled to attend and we encourage you not to overload on workshops but take some time out to connect with others, chill out, or explore the location at your leisure.
2026 Workshop Program
Exploring what gets in the way of love and how to cultivate greater openness, courage and connection in our lives.
An honest, compassionate and practical exploration to better understand, reduce and work with suicidal thoughts and feelings.
Adam Weaver is the Principal of Connected Spirit, offering Counselling, Coaching & Workshops in Australia & online. He draws on his academic qualification in Counselling & Coaching and decades of study in eastern philosophy and the human condition, together with meditation and healing modalities to facilitate counselling sessions. Adam offers a holistic and intuitive approach to counselling, inclusive of transpersonal, solution focused, & positive psychology, that incorporates your spiritual, agnostic or atheist beliefs.
A playful journey into nature, myth and the inner-child, weaving connection with the land, Fae Folk, ceremony, drumming and sound to open pathways for authentic growth, deeper connection and community.
Brad is a spirit-centred intuitive creator and holistic practitioner who utilises animistic/ shamanic practice, kinesiology and design. He offers teaching/sharing circles, sound meditations, drum circles, drum-making & other workshops to foster good health and community empowerment.
The Sacred Ordinary of Fathers and Fathering explores what it means to be a father, not as an ideal, but as a way of being.
We look beyond big-picture societal and masculine tropes and explore fatherhood in intimate, ordinary moments: in the courage to show up, pay attention, stay when things are difficult, play, listen, risk, and repair.
I am a psychotherapist, counsellor, and trained Yoga and Meditation Teacher who works both in private practice and Emergency Recovery, supporting people and communities through the aftermath of bushfires. My career has encompassed counselling, case management, advocacy and leadership across regional, remote and metropolitan Australia.
Kosta Michalopoulos is a Registered Nurse, Root Cause Therapist and Health Promotion Advocate. He is the founder of The Men Spirit, a Victorian-based men’s wellbeing platform. With more than 20 years’ experience across acute and community health settings in Greece and Australia, he brings together clinical insight, lived experience and a deep respect for the complexity of men’s lives. Kosta facilitates men’s circles, workshops and mentoring spaces that support emotional awareness, resilience and genuine connection.
20 years ago I stumbled on a program that changed the course of my life in ways that I can only be grateful for. The road into mens work and personal change has built me into a better man, assisted by a deep connection to my community in Mens Wellbeing.
I have now been a Common Ground facilitator for over 10 years, nearly 5 years as a Custodian of the program. It’s my passion to support other men to make life-long changes and build Mens Groups in our communities.
An exploration of the masculine Lover—uncovering what can block our capacity to give an receive love, and developing more confident, authentic ways of loving ourselves, others and life.
Phillip has run support groups for over fifteen years using improv drama and psychodrama with people wishing to enhance their lives and relationships, recently focusing on men’s issues.
He worked previously as a teacher, college lecturer and chiropractor.
An invitation to encounter the world as living and animate—using story, dialogue, ritual and language to explore hidden doorways into deeper relationship with the land and the life around us.
A consent-based exploration of connection, vulnerability and the courage to soften. Discover what it means to move beyond distance and allow ourselves to be held and experience genuine human connection.
Toby is a husband, father, and operations leader who has spent the past several years exploring personal growth through men’s work, nervous system regulation, and authentic connection.
Drawing on his own lived experience of addiction, recovery, grief, and rebuilding relationships, Toby is passionate about creating a space where men can slow down, soften, and experience genuine human connection.
He believes some of our greatest growth comes not through fixing ourselves, but through having the courage to be fully present with ourselves and one another.
A practical, embodied exploration of emotions as allies. Use grounding, movement and compassionate awareness to release held tension and create greater calm, clarity and presence.
Adam Blanch is a psychologist and author who has a particular focus on treating trauma, complex trauma, addiction and self-sabotage. He has 40 years experience in therapy, men’s work and workshop facilitation. Adam has studied and practiced more than 40 different types of trauma therapy and holds degrees in Indigenous studies and psychology. He is the Author of The Life Compass and the soon-to-be-released book The Trauma Compass.
He works in private practice and professional training for frontline responders in Melbourne.
Laughter is one of the most powerful ways men can connect, release, and discover new parts of themselves. In this playful workshop, we’ll use the tools of improvisational comedy to explore spontaneity, creativity, and authentic self-expression. No experience is needed — just a willingness to step into the unknown, support one another, and find the humour in being human. Together, we’ll practice “making it up as we grow,” using improv games and group exercises to deepen connection, build confidence, and uncover joy.
Jake is a PhD Candidate and provisional psychologist with over 8 years of experience doing improv comedy and clowning.
Come learn the chess basics. Whether you’re new or a seasoned master, there’s always something new to learn. Who knows, you might meet a new chess buddy!
I’ve been playing chess since my grandma taught me as a kid. I’ve run classes for adults and kids, and always try to find a local chess club I can visit. I like the social, psychological and philosophical aspects of chess and am totally not a chess nerd!
An honest exploration of regret as a teacher rather than an enemy. Turn the roads-not-taken, relationships un-repaired and dreams abandoned into clarity, courage and commitment for the life still ahead.
David Gilmore is the founder of The No Regrets Movement, helping people transform regret into clarity, courage and purposeful action.
With 30 years’ experience as a criminal lawyer and many years working in Mens Wellbeing, David is a Lead Facilitator with the Common Ground men’s program and has facilitated workshops at many men’s gatherings. After decades of listening to people’s deepest regrets—in courtrooms, coaching and men’s circles— David has come to believe that our greatest regrets often point towards our deepest values.
Drawing on evidence-based coaching, growth mindset principles and lived experience, David developed The No Regrets Method™, a practical framework that helps people stop living by default and intentionally create a life of which they can be proud.
His workshops blend practical tools, honest conversation, humour and powerful reflection, creating a safe and engaging space that inspires people to take the courageous step towards a life with no regrets.
Why do people experience suicidal thoughts? How do we demystify the confusion of suicidal ideation? Can we untangle our thoughts & feelings to diffuse stress? How can we support recovery?
This open forum workshop will discuss key insights and bring about understanding for ourselves, those struggling with suicidal ideation and even people who have taken their own life. Increased self awareness and understanding together with tools for self regulating thoughts and feelings are key to diffusing suicidal ideation and bringing about a greater sense of safety & peace.
Adam Weaver is the Principal of Connected Spirit Counselling. Adam draws on his academic qualification in Counselling & Coaching, and decades of study in eastern philosophy and the human condition, together with meditation and healing modalities to facilitate counselling sessions. He offers a holistic and intuitive approach to counselling, inclusive of transpersonal, solution focused, & positive psychology that incorporates your spiritual, agnostic or atheist beliefs. With a ‘mind-body-spirit’ focus, Adam collaborates with you to address your personal obstacles and to strengthen your mental, emotional and physical well-being.
What is the world asking from me? What is my purposeful life going forward, particularly if I am in the latter half of my life? What contributions am I called to give. Althougth this workshop focusses on men 50 years and above, all are welcome. This is an interactive workshop offering time, energy and space to work on your more intentional elder life!
This workshop arose from a men’s elder retreat in Victoria in June 2025. Tim is an executive coach and leadership practitioner with Leading Well, following a career as a veterinarian, public servant and consultant. His focus is on supporting men in leadership positions, and also men in transition including into later stages of life.
In this 9D Breathwork session, participants take a guided journey into the subconscious mind. Experience an altered state of consciousness that facilitates real and lasting change!
9D Breathwork is a holistic and transformative healing modality that combines breathwork techniques with elements of sound healing, and neuro linguistic programming. By utilizing deep, conscious breathing practices, participants are able to release emotional blockages, trauma, and negative thought patterns, allowing for increased clarity, relaxation, and personal growth. This powerful practice aims to connect individuals to their higher self and facilitate profound healing on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level.
A story telling of Homers great tale of homecoming… The Odyssey
Jeff and Sim are both tellers of tall tales. Last year they brought the Parsifal myth to Menergy, told over 3 nights.
They are both Rites of Passage guides via The school of lost borders. Jeff and Sim believe that nothing can thaw the heart like a story well-told.
Dig Bortolin and Michael Flatt run a conversation on some aspects of the physical body and in the ageing process, e.g. the prostate. Conversation will be open and collaborative, with participants encouraged to share experience and ask questions. Open to all men, not just the aging, our idea is to shine a light onto the common experiences of male aging and encourage open sharing beyond Menergy.
Dig and Michael both identify as old codgers and well qualified!
This workshop is an opportunity to sink our spirits and bodies deep in to an old myth, and as Martin Shaw says, ‘let it have its way with us’ as we journey through the dark dark forest, courting and meeting our wild twin. We will use deep nature connection practices as a doorway into a greater understanding of the myth and how it might relate to our own life and especially how it might help us prepare for a rite-of-passage ceremony such as Vision Quest. We will leave with some basic techniques to foster an ongoing and ever widening relationship with the more-than-human-world.
I have been participating and working in mens spaces for almost 15 years, and participating in and facilitating Vision Quests for 10 years. I have also been working in the field of deep nature connection, and rewilding for over 5 years within Natures Apprentice and the Nature Based Leadership Program. I am passionate about the interconnection of spirituality and physicality in this animate world, and its vital importance on the heart-centred road of parenting, grief and gratitude, and deeply committed partnership. I am offering a men’s year-long Quest program in 2026. See www.naturesapprentice.com.au.
Relating From The Heart is a transformative 3-hour workshop focused on healing the masculine and creating space for healthier, more authentic connections. Through practices in communication, boundaries, and emotional awareness, participants explore how to move beyond outdated stories of masculinity into a place of strength rooted in empathy, compassion, and truth.
The workshop encourages shared healing and understanding, helping individuals and communities bridge divides and cultivate deeper support systems. Participants leave with practical tools to nurture resilience, vulnerability, and meaningful relationships in every area of life.
Thomas Robb is the founder of Life Is The Way and a dynamic force in personal transformation. With 13 years of experience as a speaker, facilitator, and life coach, he empowers individuals and groups to cultivate authenticity, compassion, and deeper connection. Holding qualifications in yoga, meditation, environmental education, and a Master’s in Neuro Transformation Therapy, Tom blends ancient wisdom with modern self-enquiry to guide holistic growth. From parliament house to schools, breweries, and businesses across Australia, he inspires diverse audiences to honour their truth, strengthen relationships, and create more fulfilling personal, professional, and social lives.
We live in a world that celebrates performance and endurance, yet many men push past their limits until something breaks. Permission to Stop is a workshop that invites men to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their humanity before burnout, addiction, or collapse forces the issue. Drawing on my personal journey from high-functioning burnout to recovery, we’ll explore the silent signs of “pre-burnout,” the cost of ignoring them, and practical tools to create balance.
Through guided storytelling, group sharing, and simple embodied exercises, men will gain a clearer understanding of their own limits, a deeper connection to their inner voice, and the courage to rest without guilt. This workshop touches on core themes of mental health and addiction, balancing self with family, and working with anger and other hard-to-accept feelings — all within a framework of acceptance.
Gary Smart is a best-selling author, award-winning speaker, and seasoned engineer who has been coding since the 1980s. As a certified NLP practitioner and life coach, Gary empowers professionals to master emotional intelligence, communication, and burnout-resilient leadership. His work bridges technical expertise with human connection, drawing from personal experience of near-collapse, recovery, and rebuilding a purposeful life. Gary has delivered keynotes, workshops, and coaching for diverse audiences, including tech professionals, founders, and men’s groups. His speaking is raw, engaging, and practical — helping men recognise early warning signs, shift unhelpful conditioning, and live with more balance, presence, and authenticity. Gary’s passion is creating safe, relatable spaces where men can drop the mask, share honestly, and discover that they are not alone.