Mountain Men
Mountain Men Inc. is a volunteer community group that supports the positive activity, engagement and inclusion of men (18 years+) in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges. Our aim is to reduce the number of men who are socially disadvantaged, marginalised or isolated to become productive, active members of the local community.
Parenting Neurodivergent Kids Workshop
Wednesday 12 August 2026
Parenting Neurodivergent Kids - Strengths Struggles & Strategies
Raising a neurodivergent child can be incredible, exhausting, confusing, joyful, isolating — and sometimes all before breakfast.
Whether your child is autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, anxious, sensory-sensitive, struggling at school, or simply experiences the world differently, parenting can sometimes feel like trying to read the instruction manual… without being given one.
Join therapist, educator, keynote speaker and neurodivergent dad Tony Vallance from Building Better Brains for a warm, practical and neuroaffirming workshop designed to help parents better understand and support their child’s unique brain.
Together, we’ll explore:
🧠 Understanding neurodivergent brains — what’s really going on beneath behaviour
💛 Emotional regulation, overwhelm, anxiety and big feelings
🌱 Building on strengths while supporting challenges
🏠 Practical strategies for calmer homes, stronger connection and more confidence as a parent
🤝 Supporting yourself as a parent while navigating the ups and downs
This workshop blends practical tools, humour, lived experience, therapeutic insight and real-world strategies you can take home and use straight away.
Thanks for the support of Sherbrooke Family and Children's Centre, the Federal Government and Yarra Ranges Council for their contributions which have allowed this event to happen
Sherbrooke Family & Children's Centre
Mountain Men Dads and Kids Club 2026
Between Sunday 19 April 2026 and Sunday 31 May 2026
We are back underway weekly on Sundays from April 19th 2026 with the Mini-Beasts festival!
Keep an eye out here and we will be updating the activities as we lock them in!
April 19th - 10:30 am - 2:30pm- Mini-Beasts Festival and Badge making (all family members welcome)
May 3rd - 9:30 - 11- Mothers Day (next week 10th of May) Gift Preparation
May 17th - 9:30 - 11- Bush Potions!
May 24th - 9:30 - 11- TBC
May 31st - 9:30 - 11- TBC
This event will be for kids, aged 3 to 10 years old, please book a place for each child attending :)
Thank you to the Federal Government and Yarra Ranges Council Grants for community for assisting in sponsoring these events!
Birdsland Environmental Education Centre (keep going past the middle carpark)
8 week Fitness challenge
Between Tuesday 24 February 2026 and Saturday 18 April 2026
Mountain Men has funding for the next 8 weeks to run $15 small group gym sessions with a trainer from True Form Therapies in Ferntree Gully.
Never set foot in a gym before? No problems, come along for a friendly introduction to fitness focusing on strength, mobility and pre-hab.
The first session is free to see if it's for you!
Thankyou to Yarra Ranges Council for supporting this event!
South Eastern Fitness
Hills Networking
Friday 20 March 2026
Do you live on or around the mountain and work from home and or own or works in a local business?
Do you miss out on after work socialisation and business networking opportunities closer to the city?
Then this is event is for you!
Join us for an evening of networking and socialising with other locals at Kilik Bar in Belgrave on the 3rd Friday of the month.
Proudly brought to you by Mountain Men and Mums of the Hills!
Kilik
MM Dads+Kids "Overcoming Obstacles Together" Karate session
Sunday 15 March 2026
Mountain Men Dads / Male caregivers and Kids Group.
We had a wonderful time with our "Connection and Co-regulation Karate" in 2025, now we are looking at "Overcoming Obstacles Together" in 2026.
This event will be for kids, aged 5 to 10 years old, please book a place for your child and yourself.
Dress in comfortable clothes and for dads with more than one child, consider making this some special time one on one with one time with one of your kids.
Paragon have a wonderful and inclusive program for kids of all abilities and are specially crafting this program for dads and kids to connect. For more information you can see their website https://www.wecreatesuperheroes.com.au/.
We thank the Federal Government for their support of this event with the Grants for community.
Paragon Inc.
Hills Networking
Friday 20 February 2026
Do you live on or around the mountain and work from home and or own or works in a local business?
Do you miss out on after work socialisation and business networking opportunities closer to the city?
Then this is event is for you!
Join us for an evening of networking and socialising with other locals at Kilik Bar in Belgrave on the 3rd Friday of the month.
Proudly brought to you by Mountain Men and Mums of the Hills!
Kilik
Hills Networking
Between Friday 17 October 2025 and Friday 19 December 2025
Do you live on or around the mountain and work from home and or own or works in a local business?
Do you miss out on after work socialisation and business networking opportunities closer to the city?
Then this is event is for you!
Join us for an evening of networking and socialising with other locals at Kilik Bar in Belgrave on the 3rd Friday of the month.
Proudly brought to you by Mountain Men and Mums of the Hills!
Kilik
MM Christmas Picnic
Sunday 14 December 2025
Pizza in the park...
2025 Christmas break is upon us, this year we are hosting the family picnic slightly differently.
We will organise some pizza catering from Angelo @La Bella Vita Pizzeria with some gf, and non dairy, vegetarian options included.
BYO drinks and nibbles and other lunchables especially if you have dietary requirements!
This is an event to bring your family along to and enjoy the Christmas festivities.
Attendance confirmation will be essential for smooth organisation for the day.
Any questions feel free to shoot us an email/.
https://www.instagram.com/labellavitapizzeria_aj/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093084205736
Belgrave Lake Park
Mountain Men Dads / Male caregivers and Kids Group
Between Saturday 6 September 2025 and Sunday 26 October 2025
We are back underway on Sunday September the 28th for those who aren't going away for the school holidays or the long weekend, we are looking forward to a bunch of new activities and catch-ups with you all!
Keep an eye out here and we will be updating the activities as we lock them in!
September 6th - 10-11:30 - MoTHs and MM Fruit Tree planting and Pizza Oven!
September 28th - 9:30 -11 - Nature Walk and photography and Veggie garden seed planting!
October 5th - 9:30 -11
October 12th - 9:30 -11
October 19th - 9:30 -11
October 26th -Yarra Ranges Council Children's Week Celebration (Mum's and/or partners welcome)
Thank you to the Federal Government Grants for community for assisting in sponsoring these events!
Birdland Environmental Education Centre
Mountain Men AGM and Games Night
Thursday 23 October 2025
Mountain Men have their Annual General Meeting coming up in October!
Come along for pizza and a soft drink, followed by a short AGM to hear more about Mountain Men, our different activities and what we do.
Members have the opportunities to nominate for the committee and vote for for the incoming committee, membership is required to sign-up annually to keep your details up to date https://www.mountainmen.org.au/membership-form.
Please reach out to contact@mountainmen.org.au if you'd like to get involved with the committee.
Following the AGM we will hold the regular Games Night, Pizza and soft drinks will be provided, feel free to bring along other snacks etc. you may enjoy!
6:30 Social Pizza and soft drinks
7:00 AGM commences
7:30 Games Night commences
9:30 Night concludes
The Tin Shed
Dads / Male caregivers and Kids Group
Between Sunday 4 May 2025 and Sunday 10 August 2025
We have finished our Birdsland catchups until September now and will have a special event on August 10th at Paragon Inc in Tecoma.
Connection and co-regulation karate!
This event will be for slightly older kids, aged 5 to 10 years old.
Paragon have a wonderful and inclusive program for kids of all abilities and are specially crafting this program for dads and kids to connect. For more information you can see their website https://www.wecreatesuperheroes.com.au/.
Paragon Inc.
Mountain Men's 3rd Annual "MEN'S WINTER GATHERING"
Saturday 26 July 2025
Mountain Men is proud to host our 3rd annual "MEN'S WINTER GATHERING." An opportunity for men from the Dandenongs to come together with active MM members in a safe, welcoming and inclusive place to connect with one another, making new connections and chat about the MM community, ideas and activities coming up in the next 12 months.
Adventure-based activities i.e. high ropes course - (optional), reptile house, followed by catered camp dinner and, fireside Yarning Circle chat.
YMCA Discovery Camp
LEARN TO COOK
Tuesday 13 May 2025
This FREE program will introduce essential cooking skills, techniques and tips, from food handling and safety to nutrition, equipment use, and of course, cooking! From the basics all the way to to slow cooker ideas, baking and more. A great way to meet new mates, whilst learning new skills.
4 x 4-hour sessions
Sessions run, 10 am - 2pm, Tuesday 29th April to Tuesday 20th May 2025
Foothills Community Care
8 week Fitness challenge
Between Saturday 15 March 2025 and Tuesday 27 May 2025
Mountain Men has funding for the next 8 weeks to run free gym sessions with True Form Therapies in Ferntree Gully.
Never set foot in a gym before? No problems, come along for a friendly introduction to fitness focusing on strength, mobility and pre-hab.
South Eastern Fitness
Dads and Kids Group
Sunday 16 March 2025
Come along for a play and a coffee and hear about what we have planned for 2025 for Dads and Kids. We have lots of activities in the pipeline along with workshops and presentations for parents and caregivers. Come along if you're interested to hear more and also there are opportunities to help out. First 10 people to RSVP will get a free coffee from the coffee van.
Unfortunately the event will be cancelled in the event of Extreme Fire Danger, so watch out for updates.
Olinda Playspace
LEARN TO COOK
Tuesday 12 November 2024
This FREE program will introduce essential cooking skills, techniques and tips, from food handling and safety to nutrition, equipment use, and of course, cooking! From the basics all the way to to slow cooker ideas, baking and more. A great way to meet new mates, whilst learning new skills.
4 x 4-hour sessions (you must attend all 4 x sessions over the 4 weeks)
Sessions run, Tuesday 29th October to Tuesday 19th November 2024
Foothills Community Care
Mountain Men's 2nd Annual "MEN'S WINTER GATHERING"
Saturday 27 July 2024
Building upon our men's health and wellbeing seminars and Yarning Circle's, Mountain Men is proud to host our 2nd annual "MEN'S WINTER GATHERING." An opportunity for men to come together in a safe, welcoming and inclusive place to connect with one another, making new connections and mates, and connecting to community. Adventure-based activities (ie. high ropes course - optional), followed by catered camp dinner and, fireside Yarning Circle chat.
Participants MUST be Mountain Men members to participate. Membership is free and you can sign up at: https://www.mountainmen.org.au/membership-form
YMCA Discovery Camp
Raising Resilient Kids - ONLINE Presentation (CANCELLED)
Wednesday 19 June 2024
FREE EVENT ONLINE! Kids are continually going through changes and faced with a world of new challenges. Join popular developmental pediatrician and host of Pop Culture Parenting, Dr. Billy Garvey, who will bringing his insight, knowledge and humour to Upwey, to highlight strategies and answer questions about building resilience in our kids and family units.
Please join via the link below 19/05/2024 7PM:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting
Meeting ID: 316 419 816 896
Passcode: oU22ns
RAISING RESILIENT KIDS! with Dr Billy Garvey
Wednesday 19 June 2024
FREE EVENT! Kids are continually going through changes and faced with a world of new challenges. Join popular developmental pediatrician and host of Pop Culture Parenting, Dr. Billy Garvey, who will bringing his insight, knowledge and humour to Upwey, to highlight strategies and answer questions about building resilience in our kids and family units.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Sherbrooke Family & Children's Centre
