When asked what drew Mitch to become a facilitator with the Rites of Passage Institute, Mitch’s answer was clear: “It’s a confusing time to be young and male.” He reflects on the challenges boys face today - conflicting expectations, outdated stories from past...
Parenting kids & teens in an increasingly uncertain tech-dominant world Reflections from our CEO Dr Arne Rubinstein OAM, Australian Father of the Year 2025 As Father of the Year 2025 I need to be very clear that I don’t believe there are any perfect parents and I...
Stepping back into the unknown by Arne Rubinstein A flight across the ocean has always been a powerful opportunity for me to reflect on where I am at in life. And my recent 14-hour journey to Canada, in a middle seat directly in front of the bathrooms, offered me...
Scott is a former Olympic athlete and a doctor who joined the team a little over a year ago. In this chat, he shares from the heart about how he found this work in his search to be a better parent. He is now galvanised and inspired by the fundamental paradigm...
Dr Arne Rubinstein ( mbbs, fracgp ) Jan 2014 All men have power in many different ways. They have power in their families, in their relationships, at work and in the community. They also have power to act and make decisions in their own personal lives....
The question we need to ask ourselves is not how we are going to keep our sons away from drugs and too much alcohol, but what can we do so that when they’re offered them, they have the strength and wisdom to say no. We have to accept that our sons will have multiple...
…Teenage boys are naturally fun, passionate, kind, creative, communicative & caring. Having been on a bit of a media frenzy the last week with the launch of my book, The Making of Men, I’ve been really surprised to be challenged by a number of interviewers about...
The air is full of laughter. Squeals of delight ring out as a young boy rides a bicycle that is way too big for him. 9 year old Anseed is teetering precariously close to disaster as he wobbles down the lane but somehow he manages to stay upright and brake at the...
By Dr Arne Rubinstein Recently, while cleaning up after lunch, I found myself reflecting upon my childhood and how my mother always kept a spotlessly tidy kitchen. We had an unspoken routine in our house where after every meal, the dishes were done immediately and at...
I recently had the privilege of assisting in the facilitation of one of our Making of Men programs. Over the course of 5 days, this process sees 25 boys and their fathers or significant male figure work to create new bonds and transform the relationship from child and...
Young people creating hope for humanity Over recent months I have met around 500 young people between the ages of 14-16. Through doing so, I have been so inspired and deeply moved by their unique vision of who they want to be as adults. Our team have been...
On some of the camps we have run, over half the boys are brought by men who are not their fathers. This is a sad insight into the extent of the breakdown in families. But on a positive note, it is a great sign that there are men in the community who are prepared to...
We have plenty of teachers around. Teachers that teach our youth maths, science, languages, music, sport, drama and the myriad of amazing subjects that schools now offer. To train these teachers, education institutions all over Australia are dedicated to equipping and...
“Traditional masculine norms, such as being tough and self-reliant mean that many young men learn to avoid expressing emotions or behaviours that show vulnerability. These dominant social norms have also been identified as a barrier to health professionals recognising...
"The independence and rebelliousness of our adolescence offer us yet another quality essential to our practice: the insistence that we find out the truth for ourselves, accepting no one's word above our own experience." - Jack Kornfield A key tenet of growth is being...
Boys To The Bush: is a camp run for boys aged 8-15. These camps are designed to get the boys “back to basics”, giving a digital detox all whilst teaching the boys a variety of trade/farm related skills. A strong emphasis is placed upon Building Resilience and promoting independence. 
Centre for Men Australia: offers a network of small communities for men, and support for men in crisis and life transition. The centrepiece of their work is the Men’s Rites of Passage held each August. This is an invitation to men from age 30 onwards, to experience a five day initiation process into becoming elders in their communities. This work was founded by the Franciscan Richard Rohr and is a worldwide movement under the auspices of Illuman, Inc.
Founded in 1984, The Outdoor Education Group (OEG) is an independent organisation that provides outdoor education and recreation experiences for tens of thousands of participants each year. OEG custom-designs programs from fully resourced journey-based school outdoor education programs to centre-based camps suitable for all school and community groups. OEG engages in extensive research in a broad range of fields – all aimed at improving the depth of the educational experience of all its participants.
Based in Southeast Queensland, Powerhouse Programs is the creation of Stephen Halsall and Andy Roy. Combining the latest in scientific knowledge of teenage brain development, life skills for the entire family and experiential processes to deepen the learning, Stephen and Andy are passionate about supporting parents and school communities to support the often challenging teenage period.
The team at Adventureworks WA are leadership and outdoor adventure specialists and have been working with individuals, schools and organisations across Australia and overseas for over 20 years. Their Rite of Passage program, aims to bring out the best in your boys and girls to become confident, healthy and valued young men and women.
Outward Bound Australia: is an independent, not-for-profit outdoor education organisation that exists to empower people to discover, develop and achieve their full potential as individuals and future leaders. They empower school students, communities and young professionals to reach beyond their limits through exhilarating outdoor education programs that take participants to a place apart and challenge them to reach their full potential.
The Mankind Project: is a network of men’s groups, communities and training centres situated in many locations across Australia. At the core of this community is a men’s educational training weekend workshop, The New Warrior Training Adventure, which aims to show the value of having a personal mission in life.
The Rite Journey: provides unique educational programs designed to support the development of self-aware, vital, responsible, respectful & resilient adults. The specially developed programs involve adolescents in reflection, discussion and developing strategies around transitioning into adulthood.
The Sanskrit word ‘yatra’ means ‘journey’, ‘path of life’ or ‘pilgrimage’. A yatra is a largely silent walk which offers an opportunity to explore and experience a variety of teachings for personal development. Their vision is to help people step outside their normal habits and get a fresh perspective on ordinary life. They are available in numerous location around Australia.
Fathering Adventures, founded by Darren Lewis in July 2008, is an adventure-based organisation, devoted to turning the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers, as well as providing opportunities for men to initiate boys into young manhood, young men into authentic manhood, and bless & release girls / young women into authentic womanhood. Camps are run in various locations around Australia.
Rites Together: aims to facilitate a conscious, organised process within the community to recognise and acknowledge our young adolescent people moving into adulthood with a clear understanding of the rights and responsibilities that come with that transition. They currently offer Father and Son camps and aim to develop Mother and Daughter camps in the future.
Trek Learning Centre is a Victorian not-for-profit organisation working with children, young people and families through healthy childhood, adolescence and into young adulthood. Trek offers a 4-day rites of passage ‘Boys to Men- Pathways to Healthy Masculinity’ camp. Designed for adolescent boys & their father or significant adult male, the camp explores healthy masculinity through connection, community, robust play, mentorship, healthy expression of emotions, bush-crafting and more. Acknowledging the passing of boyhood and consciously witnessing and celebrating the stepping into young manhood.
Hope Ryan has been running Blossoming Workshop – for Mothers & Daughters for three years, a program designed to inspire, delight, empower and educate girls and their mothers. This program serves as an introduction to menstruation and is an opportunity to explore and celebrate this powerful rite of passage. Designed for girls aged from 10-15, this program teaches participants to develop an authentic respect for their bodies. Program available in Bellingen NSW, Mornington Peninsular VIC, and elsewhere by arrangement.
The Wisdom Seekers facilitates monthly circles for girls aged between 9-14, providing a space to explore rites of passage through shared stories, education and transformation. Circles are an excellent way to facilitate and foster group cohesiveness and provides a safe space to ask questions, discuss problems and develop problem solving skills. The Wisdom Seekers is based in Eltham / Mt Eliza VIC.
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Step Into Womanhood Mother-Daughter Retreat is a 7 day retreat held during the July holidays each year in beautiful Ubud, Bali. This retreat has been created so that you can have time to bond with your daughter as generations of women have done before you. It is a precious space for girls and their mum or carer to develop a new respect and understanding for each other in preparation for the rest of your lives. Step Into Womanhood also offers a Celebration Day For Girls workshop in Melbourne’s inner north, but can be available worldwide for larger groups upon request.
Charlotte Young facilitates Becoming a Woman – Celebration Day for Girls, a program that promotes lively discussion, fun activities, sharing stories and the gentle celebration of the magical threshold of puberty and menarche. The one day workshop is complemented by a 2 hour session for mothers to step through the content and offer a chance to express their hopes and wishes for the day.
The Fire Keepers has developed a range of programs to facilitate rites of passage with a strong emphasis on nature and family. Wild By Nature Village Camp is a family-friendly 4-day camp designed to immerse participants in the wonder and wisdom of the wilds, learn skills of living close to the earth and share with others under the stars. Based in VIC.
Arahni Lion is the brains behind Marigold Moon – Embodying the Heart and Womb. Marigold Moon operates from Sydney right through the south coast to Canberra, facilitating rites of passage, women’s circles, bodywork sessions and Remembering Women’s Mysteries community workshops.
Trek Learning Centre is a Victorian not-for-profit organisation working with children, young people and families through healthy childhood, adolescence and into young adulthood. Trek offers a 4-day rites of passage ‘Girls to Women- Pathways to Healthy Womanhood’ camp for adolescent girls & their mothers or significant adult female. Re-building play, connection and trust in important female relationships, the camp explores healthy womanhood, belonging, relationships, stereotypes, health, wellbeing & community. Acknowledging the leaving of girlhood and consciously witnessing and celebrating the entry into young womanhood.
Kamya O’Keeffe: Kamya is a mentor to women coaches and leaders. She creates safely held respectful individual and group circles and rites of passage programs. She has 20+ years experience as an arts & cultural pioneer and strategic head of programming and development that honed her approach to collective and transformational experiences.