Program and speakers

 Keynotes

Taimalelagi Mataio Faafetai (Matt) Brown – a New Zealand born Samoan author and renowned communicator who works to eradicate domestic violence by supporting those who perpetrate violence, to heal. A survivor of family violence and childhood sexual abuse himself, he originally started his domestic violence advocacy work by sharing his story with the men who frequented his busy barbershops as a way to foster vulnerability, healing, and connection, and now has grown that idea into hosting free men’s anti-violence support groups from locations like barbershops, construction sites, gang pads, prisons and in indigenous spaces. He is a staunch advocate of being able to redefine societies view of masculinity and to help end the cycle of domestic violence plaguing families all over the world.

Dr Tracy Westerman AM is a proud Nyamal woman from the Pilbara region of Western Australia and long been considered a critical thought leader in Aboriginal mental health, suicide prevention and cultural competency. In 2003, she became the first Aboriginal person to complete a combined Masters and PhD in Clinical Psychology. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology, a master’s degree in clinical psychology and Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology). This is despite coming from a background of disadvantage and one in which she had to undertake most of her tertiary entrance subjects by Distance Education. In 2022 Dr Westerman signed with University Queensland Press (UQP) to publish her memoir in late 2023/early 2024 which documents her significant and groundbreaking work.