Helping people navigate life's biggest transitions.
Dr Arne Rubinstein OAM is an internationally recognised expert in Rites of Passage, a speaker, mentor, author and the founder of the Rites of Passage Institute.
For more than 30 years, Arne has worked with young people, families, schools, organisations and communities to create meaningful pathways through the transitions that shape our lives.
A different way of looking at growing up
Arne's work began in medicine.
After working as a GP and spending 15 years in Emergency Medicine, he became increasingly interested in what was happening beyond the consulting room. He was seeing young people struggling with disconnection, uncertainty and a lack of clear guidance as they moved towards adulthood.
He began exploring an idea that had been part of human cultures for thousands of years: Rites of Passage.
What if young people were given the opportunity to consciously mark the transition from childhood to adulthood, surrounded by people who could guide, challenge and support them?
That question became the foundation for more than three decades of work.
Arne went on to found the Rites of Passage Institute and develop programs, camps and training designed to help young people and the adults around them navigate these important transitions with greater confidence, connection and purpose.
Today, his work reaches far beyond the original programs, supporting families, schools, organisations and communities across Australia and internationally.
What I believe
Young people need more than information. They need guidance.
Growing up has never been simple, but the world young people are navigating today is changing faster than ever.
They need adults who are willing to show up, listen, set boundaries, offer perspective and walk alongside them through the difficult parts.
They also need opportunities to experience challenge, responsibility, belonging and genuine connection.
I believe that when young people are given the right support at the right time, they can develop the confidence, resilience and sense of purpose they need to step into adulthood well.
And I believe we all have a role to play in that process.
Thirty years of putting these ideas into practice.
Arne's work brings together his experience as a doctor, educator, mentor, facilitator and father.
Through the Rites of Passage Institute and his work as a speaker and mentor, he has worked with:
30+
Years of experience
450,000+
People reached through programs, seminars and camps
25+
Countries reached
2024
Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to youth
From families to classrooms, communities and organisations
Arne works with people and organisations who are looking for better ways to support growth, leadership and meaningful change.
His work has included partnerships with schools, corporations, educational institutions, community organisations and Indigenous communities, as well as programs supporting parents and families.
He speaks and facilitates on topics including young people's development, parenting, fatherhood, leadership, resilience, healthy masculinity, connection and the role of Rites of Passage in modern life.
Arne's contribution to young people, families and communities has been recognised nationally and internationally.
Order of Australia Medal | 2024
Awarded the OAM for service to youth.
Australian Father of the Year | 2025
Recognised for his decades-long commitment to guiding young people and supporting parents and families.
Executive Education
Has completed executive courses at Harvard and Oxford Universities.
Author
Author of The Making of Men: Raising Boys to be Happy, Healthy and Successful, as well as other resources for parents and educators.
Beyond the work
At the heart of Arne's work is a simple belief: meaningful change starts with connection.
As a father, mentor and community member, Arne continues to learn from the young people, parents and communities he works alongside. For him, this work is not about having all the answers. It is about creating the space for people to ask better questions, build stronger relationships and find their own way through life's important transitions.
Whether he's speaking to a room of thousands, working with a group of young people or sitting with a parent, Arne brings the same focus: helping people feel more connected, capable and prepared for what comes next.