Hundreds of Aboriginal men from across Australia have issued a historic apology to their women for the "pain, hurt and suffering" indigenous men have caused them.

For the past three days in the desert of Central Australia, men of all age groups from Cape York, the Top End, Central Australia, NSW and WA have discussed ways to be better fathers, husbands and sons.

They also sought to repair the damage caused in the 12 months since their communities were denounced as hotbeds of violence and abuse.

Since the federal intervention to combat child sex abuse was launched in June last year, John Liddle - from the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress - said Aboriginal men had been painted as brutal and uncaring.

"We are not all bastards," Mr Liddle told the gathering at Ross River outside of Alice Springs.