The Right Direction Australia (The Right Direction) is a registered Canberra-based grassroots volunteer-based charity dedicated to empowering young men in the region to grow into confident and resilient positive role models, equipped to navigate the challenges of modern masculinity.
The Right Direction is run entirely by dedicated volunteers who generously donate their time and expertise. All facilitators are active volunteers within The Right Direction ensuring that our programs align with its mission and values. Their commitment highlights the authenticity of our programs and amplifies the impact of every contribution, ensuring we can continue making a meaningful difference.
We approach the delivery of our program with a sense of duty, service and commitment. Trained volunteer facilitators are male and female Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans and civilians. Our facilitators act as positive role models; we leverage off their training and real life experiences to develop a strong rapport with our program participants.
Josh Vaughan
CEO/Director/Chair
Martin Brooker
Director
Michael Aichholzer
Director
Mark Korsten
Director
We offer a variety of other programs, all focused on supporting young men and their families as they navigate this important life journey together.
We believe that a strong, supportive father-son relationship is the foundation for a young man's growth and development into adulthood. Our flagship program, Mengineering® is specifically designed to strengthen this father-son connection.We offer a variety of other programs, all focused on supporting young men and their families as they navigate this important life journey together.
Our mission at Mengineering® is to empower young men to develop self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and resilience through meaningful shared experiences with their fathers. By creating opportunities for fathers and sons to connect deeply, spend quality time together, explore new activities, build valuable skills, and foster positive communication, we aim to strengthen relationships and forge lasting bonds that promote personal growth and mutual understanding.
Research shows that active father involvement is closely linked to children’s overall life satisfaction, mental health, and well-being. Sons with engaged fathers are more likely to feel connected, face unfamiliar or stressful situations with confidence, and embrace opportunities for growth and exploration.
The Mengineering® Father-Son Weekend Retreat is an investment in the next generation, offering young men the chance to step away from life’s distractions and focus on building their confidence, skills, and emotional resilience.
It’s more than a weekend experience - the program is crafted to nurture young men’s personal growth while strengthening the bond between fathers and sons. In this immersive weekend experience, fathers and sons step into an unfamiliar setting, providing a unique opportunity to truly connect and deepen their relationship. The retreat offers a balanced mix of structured and unstructured activities, allowing fathers and sons to spend quality time together, create lasting memories, and build a stronger connection.
By fostering stronger relationships, promoting healthier habits, and creating a supportive community network, the retreat contributes to the mental and physical well-being of all participants.
“I would highly recommend dads taking the time out to spend time with their sons at this retreat. It helps trigger meaningful conversations and understand each other better. Finishing the last day felt a bit like a milestone going from teaching a dependent boy to working with my young man”.
"I think a bit about making investments for my future, if you've ever thought about making a speculative investment, how much would that be? How much more would you pay for an initial investment to create a solid foundation for a relationship with your son?"
“The father and son retreat gave my son and I an opportunity to connect in ways that don't arise in normal day-to-day life. We came out of it knowing more about each other and with a re-affirmed relationship”.
“Secret sauce - reminder to stop and think and not just react was needed. Values survey- seeing how family time was important to both Isaac and I. Just the opportunity to spend time just with Isaac. This wouldn’t have happened otherwise”.
https://www.mengineering.org.au/corporate-father-son-retreats
Primary School supported 1.5-hour workshop where fathers & sons discuss, decide and draw their superheroes with the expert guidance and tutorage from our great mate Andrew Hore from www.funnyworksoz.com.
With the support of hosting Primary Schools, fathers & sons work together on creating a dynamic duo; same suits, different powers, traits etc. to complement each other. At the end of the workshop, fathers and sons will have hand drawn superheroes, quality time spent together and subsequently stronger/closer relationships.
https://www.mengineering.org.au/father-son-cartooning-workshops
With the support of interested and invested teachers and fathers, Mengineering® assists school communities to create and host events for Fathers & Sons to interact and mix, spend quality time together, try new things, learn new skills, utilise/employ positive communication and social skills and strengthen relationships.
https://www.mengineering.org.au/mengineering-in-schools
The Mengineering® Community of Practice (MCoP) is dedicated to helping fathers strengthen their bond with their sons, navigate challenges with resilience and integrity, and create lasting memories and relationships that enhance their lives.
We achieve this by offering informal opportunities for local fathers to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another. These catch-ups complement the retreat experience by providing a supportive space to reflect on relationship progress, improve communication, and prepare for future retreats. It’s a chance to reconnect, exchange ideas, and foster growth in a safe, encouraging environment.
https://www.mengineering.org.au/educational-programs
