As a previous medical Doctor who worked for 20 years in family medicine and then in emergency medicine, Dr Arne Rubinstein (CEO & Founder, The Rites of Passage Institute) became increasingly aware and deeply disturbed by the high rates of harm that teenagers were subjecting themselves to, that unfortunately had life long consequences. He witnessed totally unnecessary risk taking behaviour and disastrously high levels of mental health issues that left young people feeling completely lost, depressed and unsupported. 

Then he discovered a preventative medical process that he had not previously heard of, Rites of Passage. Indigenous and traditional communities had for thousands of years created ceremonies to acknowledge, support and celebrate young people becoming adults. These ritual events were designed to help young people transition in a healthy way into the world of adults. 

Dr Arne began researching Rites of Passage as a tool to assist teenagers as they transition from child to adult in a safe and healthy way, while maintaining strong family relationships and passing on critical wisdom and knowledge. This process can set them up for genuine long term success and healthy relationships and address some of the major issues we are seeing today including the crisis of toxic masculinity, the need for gender equity and female empowerment.

In 1993 Dr Arne ran his first Rites of Passage father and son camp, a life changing three day process for all who attended. A few years later he stopped working as a medical doctor and moved full time into creating Rites of Passage programs.