Like many community organisations, BW&T began in the wake of tragedy. Following the loss of two identical twin brothers in Canberra, who took their lives together, what was intended to be a one-off walk to raise awareness for men’s mental health quickly became something much bigger. It became clear there was a real need, not just to talk about men’s mental health, but to better support it.

The first walk was meant to be a small gathering of mates. But when members of the public turned up, shared stories, and walked alongside one another, it was obvious this wasn’t going to be a one-time event. Since then, BW&T walks have continued across Canberra and expanded into other states, hosted by individuals and organisations who believe in the power of connection and conversation.

While BW&T focuses on men’s mental health, our biggest supporters have often been women working behind the scenes and on the ground. You don’t have to be a man to host a walk. There’s something incredibly powerful about seeing women step up to host walks in support of the men in their lives, helping create safe, welcoming spaces for conversation and connection.

There’s no right or wrong way to be involved. Whether you host a walk with one mate, bring together a larger group, do it regularly, or just once, every walk, short or long, helps raise awareness and break down the stigma around men’s mental health.

As BW&T continued to grow, our founder, Craig, spent time speaking with people in workplaces and communities and noticed something else emerging. Many men didn’t just want to walk and talk, they wanted more purpose. They wanted to do good and give back in meaningful ways.

From that, BW&T evolved beyond walks alone. Today, we are building a community and volunteer network of good men doing better things in their local communities. We connect smaller charities and organisations that need support with men from our community who are ready to show up and help.

Even as the stigma around men’s mental health slowly begins to shift, we’re honest about the fact that this is still hard. While many men like the idea of going for a walk or joining a group like BW&T, taking that first step can still feel challenging, and worries about perception remain very real.

Breaking that stigma is something we can only do together. It doesn’t matter what state you live in or where you’re at in life, every small action makes a difference, and together those small actions can have a lasting impact on someone else’s life.