Good Better Best Men are bringing their men’s mental health workshops to the Barossa, with the goal of helping men create a supportive community.
The workshop will be held at the Tanunda RSL over nine-weeks with an introductory night on Tuesday April 15. Each week will focus on a different topic and it is designed to help men go on a journey to understand what is going on in their world and within themselves, so they are able to work on challenges in their lives.
Discussing things in a circle group is a large part of the program with the workshops providing a safe space for the men to talk about anything on their minds. The group is not meant to be a place of advice - but by simply talking aloud this can help men to figure things out.
“The ability to help men to feel safe enough that they can process their emotion… and who their authentic self is, that’s really what the group is,” said group facilitator Nathan Clifford.
“We really teach men to empower themselves to not blame anybody else and to really own their own circumstances. Our slogan is ‘journey to a man’s heart’, that’s predominantly what it’s all about.”
From its start in 2023, the not-for-profit organisation now hosts programs across Adelaide, including an open group in Gawler.
It was created by Michael Brennan and Luke Di Sessa after they participated in the Yankalilla Southern Men’s Gathering, and were left wanting to create a program where men could further their self-development.
The Tanunda workshop is being run by Nathan Clifford and Bernd Bussek.
Nathan became a facilitator after completing the workshop himself and knows better than anyone the difference a group like this can make. Tanunda Bernd Bussek will also
As a tradie he had been taught to ‘stuff down’ his emotions and to deal with all of his problems on his own. His world came to screaming halt however when his business failed and began to grow angry and lash out at the people around him. He decided to take the chance and join the Good Better Best Man program and believes it has ultimately changed his life.
“If someone said to me two years ago I was this doing this I would’ve told them no way, but it works,” he said.
“I’m a completely different person to what I was 12 months ago, and that’s such a beautiful thing and I’m so grateful for that," Nathan shared.
Nathan said that the most difficult thing is to take the first step and he finds that many men are still very shut off from their emotions due to social expectations that men are just meant to ‘get on with it’.
“My generation, my parent’s generation, that was what it was all about,” he said.
“They were brought up believing toughen up, get on with it, be strong, and that continues to be the case.”
Nathans’s advice to anyone who’s been thinking of seeking help is to 'just do it' because if it can work for him it can work for anyone.
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
“If there’s something you’re afraid of that’s your heart saying it’s time to go.
“What are you waiting for?”


If a life is in danger call 000.
Further services include:
LIFELINE (24 hours)
P: 131 114
REGIONAL ACCESS COUNSELLING SERVICE (24 hours)
P: 1300 032 186
BAROSSA CARES (24 hours)
P: 8563 8444