Aboriginal men from across Australia have made a collective apology to women for past violence and abuse.

Male leaders from Central Australia were joined by others from the Top End, Cape York, New South Wales and Western Australia.

They have spent the last three days at a camp site near Alice Springs discussing ways to be better male role models.

The conference was called in response to the federal intervention, which the men say has painted them as rapists, child abusers and wife beaters.

But while their main catch-cry was "All men are not bastards", the men also say they need to take responsibility for the violence towards women and children.

The men gave politicians and those in charge of the intervention a list of recommendations to improve male health and welfare in communities.