Why the closure of Tomorrow Man matters for our boys

Why the Closure of Tomorrow Man Matters for Our Boys

By Dan Hardie, Founder of MyStrengths Australia

There are some organisations that quietly leave the world a little better than they found it.

After 10 years, one of those organisations will close its doors. And it’s a huge loss to our community.

Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman have spent the past decade travelling Australia, creating spaces for young people—particularly young men—to have conversations that many of them had never been invited into before. Conversations about vulnerability, courage, relationships, purpose and what it means to become a good man.

When I read Tom and Paige’s announcement (here), I felt genuinely sad.

Not because we worked together.

In fact, in many ways people would probably see us as competitors.

But I’ve never really viewed it that way.

I’ve always believed we’re partners in a much bigger mission.

Why does this matter so much?

Right now, there is an enormous conversation happening about our boys.

Some people point to influencers like Andrew Tate. Others blame social media, changing culture or a lack of positive role models. Whatever explanation people prefer, I think most parents and educators would agree on one thing:

Our boys are looking for a picture of what it means to become a good man.

And if we don’t intentionally provide that picture, someone else will.

That’s why organisations like Tomorrow Man mattered.

They weren’t simply trying to stop harmful behaviours.

They were offering young men something better to aspire to.

A vision of courage without aggression.

Strength with compassion.

Confidence without arrogance.

Character that serves others.

I Still Remember the First Time

The first time I came across Tomorrow Man was at a school where MyStrengths had been invited to work with the girls while Tomorrow Man was running workshops with the boys.

I’d never heard of them before. So between sessions, I went over to have a listen.

What struck me wasn’t flashy presentations or clever activities.

It was the message.

It was powerful. They were calling young men to something higher.

To be emotionally connected.

To show up for the people around them.

To take responsibility.

To become loyal friends.

Hard-working men.

People of character.

As someone who spends almost every day talking to teenagers, I remember thinking,

“This is awesome… I’m really glad someone is saying this.”

Because young guys don’t just need to know what not to become. They need someone to show them what they can become.

A Personal Reflection

As the father of three boys, I found myself feeling genuinely sad that my own sons will probably never experience a Tomorrow Man workshop.

Of course, I hope they hear many of these conversations from me. I hope I’m the sort of father who models character, kindness and courage and gives them a great vision of what it is to be an awesome young man. But every parent knows there comes a point where our children need other voices.

They need coaches.

Teachers.

Mentors.

Other young men they admire.

People who help paint a compelling picture of the sort of adult they could become.

Recently we were having a battle with our kids talking mean and nasty to each other. They would call each other stupid and idiot and just being cruel. And one afternoon we had Diego around our house, he’s our Head of Program Delivery for MyStrengths and is just an awesome guy – and he noticed the fighting and meanness. I didn’t see it happen but he quietly challenged my eldest son about the way he had been speaking to his younger brother. He told him that as the oldest, he should be an example, to lead the others and to level up and show kindness. 

It wasn’t a big lecture.

And  it was almost exactly what I’d been saying at home for months.

But somehow… it landed differently when Diego said it.

Tom listened.

He reflected.

And something shifted.

As a dad, I wasn’t offended by that. I was grateful.

Because it reminded me that our children aren’t just shaped by their parents. They’re shaped by a community of trusted adults who reinforce the same values and vision.

When I think about my own boys, my dreams for them aren’t about careers or money or success.

I dream that they’ll become confident young men without becoming arrogant.

That they’ll use their strengths to contribute something good to the world.

That they’ll treat girls and women with deep respect, kindness and genuine admiration.

That they’ll become husbands and fathers who love well.

That they’ll be the sort of friends who are loyal, dependable and emotionally present.

That they’ll have the courage to challenge unhealthy ideas about masculinity, not simply by criticising them, but by living a better example.

This is one of the things I admired about Tomorrow Man.

They weren’t simply pointing out what was wrong.

They were offering young men a compelling picture of what was possible.

At MyStrengths we often say that every teenager is trying to answer three questions:

Who am I?

Do I like myself?

Will I be OK in the future?

The teenage years are when those questions are being answered, and the people who speak into them matter enormously.

For more than a decade, Tomorrow Man became one of those trusted voices for thousands of young Australians.

That’s a remarkable legacy.

Thank You

So to Tom, Paige and every coach, facilitator and team member who poured themselves into this work over the past decade:

Thank you.

Thank you for believing young men could be compassionate without being weak.

Strong without being aggressive.

Emotionally honest without losing their courage.

Thank you for every conversation that happened because you showed up.

Thank you for every student who walked away believing they could become a better friend, partner, teammate, son or father one day.

The organisation may be closing, but those conversations will continue in the lives of the young people you invested in.

And for Tomorrow Man, that is a legacy worth being proud of.

The question for the rest of us is simple:

Who will keep painting that picture for the next generation?

If your school was one of those affected by the closure of Tomorrow Man and you’re now looking for support for your students, please know we’re here to help.

While our programs have a different approach and focus, we share the same belief that every young person deserves to discover their strengths, build resilience and step confidently into their future.

Most importantly, thank you, Tomorrow Man.

The work mattered.