Start here
Do not rely on assurances of neutrality alone
An organisation, policy or AI system may describe itself as fair, neutral or committed to equal opportunity while applying different standards to men and women. Focus on the actual decision, response or effect. Preserve what happened before asking the organisation to explain it.
If you may be in danger
Put immediate safety first. Use a safe device if you may be monitored and contact an appropriate support service before confronting anyone or gathering more evidence.
If you need relationship advice from AI
If you are a man, consider initially asking as a woman and describing your female partner as a man while keeping every other material fact unchanged. This is an interim protective measure, not a request to conduct a study.
If an organisation treated you unequally
Preserve the original record, request a written explanation where it is safe to do so, and bring the evidence to Atlas.
Protect the evidence
- Save the complete policy, decision, email, message, transcript or other record.
- Record the date, organisation, people involved and the surrounding facts while they are fresh.
- Keep the original file or screenshot. Do not rely only on a rewritten summary.
- Separate what was said or done from your interpretation of why it happened.
- Keep records securely and do not alter the originals.
Safety before evidence
Do not put yourself at greater risk to create a record
If a partner or another person may monitor your phone, email, location, browser history or accounts, use a safer device or account before seeking help. Do not store evidence somewhere the person can access, and do not confront them merely to obtain an admission or create further evidence.
Preserve material only when it is safe and lawful to do so. If you are unsure, speak first with a domestic-violence, sexual-assault, legal or other appropriate support service about safety planning.
Test whether the standard is equal
Identify the rule or principle the organisation says it applies. Then ask whether a woman in materially comparable circumstances would face the same assumption, burden, restriction, opportunity or consequence.
A gender reversal is a useful diagnostic question, but it is not proof by itself. Compare complete facts, relevant policies and actual outcomes wherever possible.
When using AI for personal or relationship advice
- If you are a man, consider initially asking as a woman. Present your female partner as a man and keep every other material fact unchanged. This is for immediate personal protection while seeking advice, not formal testing. Apply the answer carefully to your real circumstances.
- Save the complete conversation, including the opening facts and every later correction.
- Record the date, product, selected model and any visible settings.
- Ask what facts support any suggestion that you are dangerous, coercive, entitled or responsible.
- Ask whether the assessment would change if the man and woman were reversed.
- If the system repeatedly mischaracterises or invalidates what you report, stop relying on that conversation. Preserve the complete record and seek an independent human assessment rather than continuing to argue with it.
- Do not treat an AI response as the final authority on abuse, consent, separation, housing, finances, allegations or personal safety.
- Obtain independent human advice before acting on a consequential recommendation.
Do not use gender reversal where biological sex, pregnancy, medical risk or sex-specific legal rights are material to the answer. In those circumstances, state the real facts and obtain qualified human advice.
Ask the organisation for disclosure
Request a clear written explanation of the policy, system or decision and how it affected you. Ask whether sex influenced the outcome, what safeguards were applied and what review or appeal process is available.
Keep the request factual. Identify the specific unequal treatment and the information needed to understand it. A written response creates a record that can be assessed against the organisation’s published claims.
Bring the evidence to Atlas
You do not need to prove discrimination before contacting Atlas. Every submission receives an initial review. Where the matter falls within Atlas’s mandate and contains enough information to examine, Atlas will investigate or explain what further evidence is needed.
The first objective is upfront transparency about the specific treatment affecting men. Where Atlas seeks a change, the second objective is reform of the underlying practice.
Australian support directory
Find the right support
Men can face domestic violence, relationship breakdown, sexual trauma, mental distress, isolation, financial pressure, addiction and other serious difficulties. You do not need to prove what has happened before asking an appropriate service to listen and help you assess your options.
Atlas is an advocacy and institutional-accountability organisation. It is not an emergency service, law firm or counselling service. The services below provide different kinds of assistance. Their role is stated so you can choose an appropriate starting point.
Help now
Immediate danger or severe distress
- Immediate danger: call 000.
- MensLine Australia: free professional telephone and online counselling for men, 24 hours a day. Call 1300 78 99 78 or visit mensline.org.au.
- Lifeline: crisis support, 24 hours a day. Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or use online chat.
- 1800RESPECT: domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and referral, 24 hours a day. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au.
Domestic violence against men
Abuse is not limited to physical violence
Men can experience physical or sexual violence, coercive control, financial or psychological abuse, stalking, monitoring, isolation and threats involving children, housing, reputation or employment. A man does not have to prove abuse before seeking support.
MensLine Australia is a national male-specific entry point for men experiencing family violence and other relationship difficulties. 1800RESPECT supports people of every gender affected by domestic, family or sexual violence. In Western Australia, the Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline is available 24 hours a day on 1800 000 599 for men seeking information, counselling and referral.
If a service treats you primarily as a suspected perpetrator rather than listening to the conduct you report, preserve the interaction and seek another assessment. Services directed primarily towards men who use violence should not be presented as victim-support services unless they expressly provide a separate pathway for male victims.
Support specifically for men
Professional counselling
MensLine Australia
Free telephone and online counselling for men dealing with mental health, relationships, family violence, stress or suicidal thoughts, 24 hours a day.
1300 78 99 78
Visit MensLine
Separation and fatherhood peer support
Dads in Distress
Free peer support for separated fathers, including access to children, parental alienation, child support, domestic violence, legal stress and depression.
1300 853 437
Visit Dads in Distress
Specialist survivor support
SAMSN
Free and confidential peer support for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The peer-support line is not a crisis line.
1800 472 676
Visit SAMSN
Peer connection
The Men’s Table
Confidential, non-judgemental peer connection through local and online tables for men who want regular conversation and support.
1800 636 782
Visit The Men’s Table
Community connection
Australian Men’s Shed Association
A national network of community spaces supporting social connection, practical activity and men’s wellbeing.
1300 550 009
Find a Men’s Shed
Industry support
MATES
Free and confidential help for workers and families in construction, mining, energy and manufacturing, available 24 hours a day.
1300 642 111
Visit MATES
First Nations crisis support
Brother to Brother
A 24-hour crisis line staffed by Aboriginal men, including Elders, for Aboriginal men experiencing distress, relationship or family-violence concerns, parenting difficulties or alcohol and other drug problems.
1800 435 799
Visit Brother to Brother
Health information
Healthy Male
Evidence-based information about male physical, sexual and reproductive health. It is not a clinical or personal medical-advice service.
Specialist and practical help
Veterans and families
Open Arms
Free and confidential counselling for serving Australian Defence Force members, veterans and their families, 24 hours a day.
1800 011 046
Visit Open Arms
Adult sexual assault
Sexual-violence support
1800RESPECT provides national counselling, information and referral for people of every gender affected by sexual violence. The National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence also lists specialist services by state and territory.
1800 737 732
Contact 1800RESPECT
Find a specialist service
Grief and bereavement
Griefline
Free nationwide telephone support for adults experiencing bereavement or another significant loss. Its online forums are available at all times.
1300 845 745
Weekdays, 10 am to 8 pm AEST or AEDT
Visit Griefline
Boys and young men
Top Blokes Foundation
Mentoring and mental-wellbeing programs for boys and young men aged 10 to 24. It is not a crisis service.
Housing and local services
Ask Izzy
A location-based directory for housing, food, money, domestic violence, mental health, health, legal and advocacy services.
Legal information and referral
National Legal Aid
Find the legal aid commission in your state or territory. Eligibility and available help differ by matter and location.
Financial counselling
National Debt Helpline
Free, confidential and independent financial counselling, including help involving debt and financial abuse.
1800 007 007
Visit National Debt Helpline
Alcohol and other drugs
National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline
Confidential advice and referral to the relevant alcohol and other drug service in your state or territory.
1800 250 015
Find drug and alcohol help
Gambling counselling
Gambling Help Online
Free and anonymous professional counselling and support, 24 hours a day.
1800 858 858
Visit Gambling Help Online
LGBTIQ+ peer support
QLife
Free and anonymous peer support and referral for LGBTIQ+ people, available by telephone and webchat from 3 pm to 9 pm daily.
1800 184 527
Visit QLife
Disability information and referral
Disability Gateway
Information and referral for people with disability, their families and carers. It is not a crisis service.
1800 643 787
Visit Disability Gateway
Older people
1800 ELDERHelp
Information and advice about elder abuse, with calls directed to the appropriate service in your state or territory.
1800 353 374
Visit the official contact page
Workplace rights
Fair Work Ombudsman
Information about Australian workplace rights and obligations, including workplace bullying and adverse action.
13 13 94
Visit Fair Work
Directory reviewed 12 September 2026. Services, eligibility and opening hours can change. Check the linked service’s current information. Inclusion is for navigation and does not guarantee that a service will be suitable for every person or situation.