Improving Health and Wellbeing Connections for Australian Men

This Men’s Health Week, we’re encouraging men to better connect with their health and wellbeing, by raising awareness of the preventable health problems facing Australian men and asking them ‘who’s on your team?’

As part of this year’s theme ‘Connecting for Men’s Health’, Healthy Male, a national men’s health information organisation, is reminding men that staying connected with their team and seeking help early is vital for supporting and maintaining good health and wellbeing.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said your team can include friends, family, work colleagues, community groups and health professionals, and this connection is more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As part of year’s Men’s Health Week, we are reminding men to prioritise their physical, emotional and social health by staying connected and knowing it is okay to ask for help,” Mr Vasta said.

“With men being less likely to seek medical advice, the importance of staying connected also spans health services and online health information sources.”

“When I think about environments where I have seen men in my electorate of Bonner connect in friendly, open, and supportive environment’s, I always think of our local Men’s Sheds.”

“Men’s Sheds are often at the heart of boosting men’s mental health in our local communities. Open to all men they play vital roles in preventing social isolation by providing a safe, friendly, and welcoming space where men can work on projects that also contribute to the local community.”

“We have more than 1,000 Men’s Sheds around Australia, which the Morrison Government supports with $1 million worth of grants each year through the National Shed Development Programme (NSDP).”

“I am incredibly pleased to announce we will be opening round 22 of the NSDP on Tuesday, 15 June. I encourage our Men’s Sheds to apply for funding to best support their meaningful work.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said one of the health issues exclusive to men is prostate cancer, which is currently the fourth most common cause of cancer death in Australian men.

“This is an ongoing focus for our Government, and I am pleased to announce that fifteen new prostate care nurses will be will be employed in health services or cancer centres across Australia in 2021-22, as part of Prostate Cancer Nurses Program,” Minister Hunt said.

“The $23 million Program, which we announced in the 2019-2020 Budget, was established to support existing prostate cancer nurses and fund positions in more than 40 new locations.”

“There will now be a total of 72 (54.5 fulltime equivalent) Commonwealth-funded PCNs across Australia, to provide vital care and information to men and their families affected by prostate cancer.”

Connection is particularly critical in supporting men’s mental health and reducing the risk of suicide.

Mental health and suicide prevention is a key priority of the Government, with the 2021-22 Budget including a record $2.3 billion investment into mental health and suicide prevention services.

We encourage all Australian men, young and old, to participate in Men’s Health Week, which runs from 14 to 20 June.

We thank the organisations comprising the Men’s Health Initiative for their ongoing work in promoting men’s health and wellbeing, and for leading events and activities across Men’s Health Week.

Applications for the next round of Men’s Sheds grants will be open until 26 July 2021.

Those wanting to submit an application can visit https://mensshed.org/development-grants.