Governor General supports International Men’s Day 2025
Australia’s Governor, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, gave her support in International Men’s Day this year.
Speaking at an event at Government House in Canberra, the Governor General acknowledged that topics such as masculinity and the role of men in society have not always received the attention they deserve.
She said: “International Men's Day is a chance for us to look at some of the things we don't talk about, the fact that men experience violence too, men feel vulnerability, homelessness, suicidality, the mental health issues. But they're also caring, gentle, kind and for young men, they want to discover that side of themselves and be part of a country where we care about everybody.”
Later, in her formal speech, Ms Mostyn said:
“It’s wonderful that we’ve come together on International Men’s Day. Today is about raising awareness of the contributions men make to society—through responsibility, kindness, leadership—and highlighting their roles in our communities, families, and workplaces.
“We must also pay close attention to the challenges men face: suicidality, mental health struggles, homelessness, violence, and abuse. These issues are often discussed in the context of women, and rightly so, but today is a vital opportunity to reflect on the issues facing men.”
The Governor was hosting the preventive mental health charity, The Man Cave, which was celebrating a milestone: impacting the lives of 100,000 teenage boys and young men.
Ben Vasiliou, CEO of The Man Cave, said: “Today, we thought we’d take the opportunity to really highlight the theme of International Men’s Day - Supporting Men and Boys - and we are releasing our own little insights paper, which talks about the challenges that teenage boys are facing. That is that one in five don't currently have a male role model in their life, and one in two, unfortunately, 50% of the boys we work with report a mental health challenge, at the moment.”
The day also saw the launch of the Parliamentary Friends of Healthy Masculinities, the Special Envoy for Men’s Health and Labor Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi MP, Liberal Member for Casey Aaron Violi MP and Independent ACT Senator David Pocock.
Mr Violi said, “On International Men’s Day, we are sending a message to Australian boys and men that their wellbeing matters. When we invest in positive masculinity, we don’t just uplift young men; we strengthen the fabric of Australian communities. When the individual is strong, the community is strong, and our nation can flourish.”
According to a statement on Senator Pocock’s website, the new friends group was announced on International Men’s Day “in order to reframe conversations about the day away from rigid stereotypes, amplify the voices of young Australian men, and show what’s possible when we invest in their growth, wellbeing and leadership”.
Reflecting on the day in his newsletter, Dan Repacholi said, "This is all about blokes stepping up. Setting the standard for how we treat each other. Showing up for our families, our mates, and ourselves and tackling the mental health challenges men are facing in every corner of the country.
“Friendship groups like this are a powerful, no-nonsense way for MPs to work together across party lines. No politics, no point-scoring, just getting on with the job. Because when it comes to men’s health, respect, and behaviour, we get better results when we’re all pulling in the same direction. Proud to be part of it, and proud to keep pushing for healthier, happier blokes across Australia.”