Join us for an insightful discussion with Mataio Faafetai (Matt) Brown from She Is Not Your Rehab about the power of mental health conversations and addressing childhood trauma in helping to prevent cycles of gendered violence. This event focuses specifically on male perspectives, recognising that promoting well-being among men contributes to a safer and more equitable society.
Mataio Faafetai (Matt) Brown, is 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. Matt believes his true calling lies in his work to redefine societies view of masculinity and to help end the cycle of domestic violence plaguing families all over the world.
For over a decade Matt has hosted free men’s anti-violence support groups from locations like barbershops, construction sites, gang pads, prisons and in indigenous spaces. He has facilitated multiple programs inside men’s and youth prisons and was named a Corrections NZ patron in 2020. Together with his partner Sarah, Matt co-founded She Is Not Your Rehab and launched the concept in Matt’s 2019 TEDx talk. He says the movement is an invitation for men to acknowledge their own childhood trauma and to take responsibility for their healing so that they can transform their pain instead of transmitting it on those around them. They released their first book; a NZ #1 Bestseller She Is Not Your Rehab, with the goal to encourage intergenerational healing in 2021
PLEASE NOTE: This is an online event and will be held via Zoom.
This event is organised by the UNSW Health Promotion Unit / UNSW Mental Health Network, UNSW Safer Communities, the University of Adelaide and the University of Queensland.
About SEXtember at UQ
Everyone has the right to safe, healthy and thriving relationships with themselves and others
Join us for UQ's inaugural SEXtember festival, an initiative aiming to normalise sex-positive conversations about sex, sexuality, healthy relationships, sexual health and reproductive health.
The theme for UQ's SEXtember festival this year is Bodies and Boundaries in recognition of the many social pressures we can face regarding our body (and its functions) and our relationships (spanning family, friends, romantic, sexual, work and more). This theme highlights the importance of taking care of, accepting, and respecting our own and other’s bodies and boundaries.
Join UQ Respect and UQ Wellbeing throughout September for a number of exciting events and opportunities including Hump Day, Feel Good Comedy, You Can’t Ask That panel event, Drag Trivia and Clay Connections.
We are excited to partner with UNSW, USyd, UNC and UoA to deliver a number of online events for you to engage with privately across a variety of topics including Queer Sex Education and including a keynote webinar from Matt Brown from She Is Not Your Rehab.
