With the support of Melbourne High School Foundation donors, we have been able to expand the Tomorrow Man wellbeing program to both Year 9 and Year 10 students this year, following a successful introduction in 2024.

While Melbourne High has long been recognised for academic excellence, we also know that supporting the wellbeing of our students is just as important. Helping young men develop resilience, empathy and the confidence to ask for help when they need it is an essential part of preparing them for life beyond school.

For many young men today, adolescence comes with complex pressures. Conversations around identity, relationships and masculinity and largely driven by social media are increasingly visible and not always promoting healthy or respectful masculinity. Subsequently many young men are unsure how to navigate expectations around vulnerability, friendship and emotional expression. 

As educators, we believe it is important that our students have the opportunity to explore these questions in safe and constructive ways.

We have partnered with Tomorrow Man, an Australian organisation that works with schools and communities to help young men develop emotional awareness, stronger relationships and a healthier understanding of masculinity. 

Through a series of facilitated workshops, the program creates space for open and honest conversations about the pressures young men can feel to hide vulnerability or conform to narrow expectations of what it means to “be a man”. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences, challenge stereotypes and build the skills needed to communicate more openly with those around them.

The workshops explore a range of themes including challenging harmful stereotypes about masculinity, understanding the impact of banter and behaviour on others, and learning how to set healthy boundaries. Students also reflect on respectful relationships and consider the values and behaviours they want to carry into adulthood.

The response from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Survey feedback shows that 92 per cent of participants said the workshops broadened their understanding of masculinity, while 90 per cent reported feeling more confident reaching out for help if they were struggling. Many also said they felt more confident supporting friends who may be going through difficult experiences. 

Student reflections capture the impact best. One participant shared, “I learned that it is important to break the stereotypes of men and to ask for help when you need it.” Another reflected, “The best way to get things off your chest is to talk to someone about them.”

This program has been delivered through a partnership between Melbourne High School and the Melbourne High School Foundation, the foundation providing $20,000.

Together, we are investing in more than academic success. We are helping ensure our students grow into thoughtful, resilient and compassionate young men who are ready to contribute positively to the communities they will one day lead.