Beyond DV launches Ask A Mate Day 2026 campaign via Young Folks, reframing domestic violence prevention through everyday influence
As public conversation intensifies around the influence of manosphere content amplified by algorithms and conflicting messages about masculinity, Beyond DV has launched the 2026 iteration of its Ask A Mate campaign, developed in partnership with B Corp-certified agency Young Folks.
The national primary prevention initiative responds to a growing gap between what young men are exposed to, and what they feel equipped to navigate.
Recent Australian research from Our Watch highlights the scale of that challenge. Nearly half (49%) of young men aged 14–17 say they are unsure, or don’t know, what makes a relationship healthy, while only 22% of young people feel completely confident knowing what to do when they feel uncomfortable or unsafe in a relationship. At the same time, one in three young people do not recognise clear consent violations as “very serious”.
Alongside this, longitudinal data shows around one in three men (35%) report having used intimate partner violence as adults, with stronger social support linked to a 26% lower likelihood of future violence.
The campaign is built on a simple premise: every young man is learning how to be a man from somewhere. Not necessarily from one big conversation, but from many small moments: what gets laughed at, ignored, challenged and celebrated. And right now, too many of those lessons are being shaped by harmful online content and narrow ideas about what it means to be a man.
Ask A Mate is a national movement working to change that.
Rather than focusing solely on harm, the campaign shifts the narrative from “what not to do” toward clear, positive demonstrations of healthy masculinity through educational content, a knowledge hub with guides and resources and a free webinar to support men with showing up for the young guys in their life.
At the centre of the campaign is Ask A Mate Day (16 May), alongside a national rollout across sport, education, community, media and digital channels. This includes partnerships with the Brisbane Lions AFL match (8 May at the Gabba), a network of ambassadors across sport and advocacy, and a suite of tools including the Ask A Mate App for young men and a broader knowledge hub.
Carolyn Robinson, Founder of Beyond DV, said the campaign is focused on shifting prevention upstream by strengthening everyday influence: “Boys are learning what it means to be a man from the people around them, in hundreds of small, repeated moments. Ask A Mate is about making those moments visible and intentional.”
Erin Morris, Managing Director at Young Folks, said the campaign reflects a broader shift in how behaviour change needs to be approached: “As a B Corp-certified agency working with purpose-driven organisations driving meaningful change, this is exactly the kind of grassroots initiative we want to support.
“The conversation around masculinity and harm is louder than ever, but noise alone doesn’t change behaviour. What drew us to Ask A Mate is that they’re making healthier, more expansive versions of masculinity visible, practical and easy to copy.”
“For every man who has ever felt like they’re one of the ‘not all men’, this is the chance to show what that looks like in practice and actively show up for the young men in your life, model something better, and help drown out the toxic noise they’re getting from the manosphere. We know men with stronger social support are significantly less likely to use violence, so if more adult men can lead in everyday moments, that’s where real culture change starts.”
Ask A Mate 2026 is rolling out nationally across April and May, culminating in Ask A Mate Day and the Great Mate Awards on 16 May.
For more information, media assets or to get involved or nominate a mate, visit:
Website: www.askamate.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askamateapp/
Nominate a mate: https://www.askamate.com.au/awards
Client: Beyond DV
Founder: Carolyn Robinson
Creative Agency: Young Folks
Creative Director: Marco Gonźalez
Strategy Director: Erin Morris
Copywriter: Julia Back
Designer: Matthew Lumb
Performance Marketing: Taylah Fuchshofer
Project Manager: Nickie White
App development: Moonward
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