Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday announced Australia’s first ever men’s health policy called the “National Male Health Policy”. He said in the announcement during a visit to the Whittlesea Men's Shed in Victoria, “They either think that they're invincible that they can just tough it out…'They don't like talking about it usually, and frankly, the problem with all that is it makes it really hard to deal with men's health problems before they become too serious.” He felt this move was long due. He added, “'It's a pretty important time that we do that, we're probably about 110 years late.”
Mr. Rudd has promised $16.7 million to cope with health problems among men who according to studies have a five year shorter life span than women. Aboriginal men die 11.5 years earlier than non-Aboriginal men. Men are also more prone to heart disease and lung cancers than women.
Professor John Macdonald from the University of Western Sydney has been urging a long-term study into men's health for some time. “How can we understand them better in order to create environments which support men's health?” Professor Macdonald said.
$6.9 million will be spent initially on a two decade long study to determine the characteristics and trends in men’s health problems. A further $6 million would be used to promote the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in their children's and families' lives. $3 million is intended for Australian Men's Sheds Association.
Mr. Rudd added, “I grew up in a country town in rural Queensland and there were always CWAs [Country Women's Associations] and there were lots of organizations where the women of the community would get together and have a natter and a chat about stuff which is of concern to them, often their health as well…'I don't recall in the town I grew up in there was any such association for blokes apart from the local pub. The good thing about this is it's actually changing that around ... the Men's Sheds.”
Warren Snowdon, the Federal Minister for Rural and Regional Health said, “It's not just about life expectancy, it's also about quality of life and so we want to improve the health of males at different stages of their life…We've got amongst the male population very high rates of chronic disease and what we've got to do is try to bring those rates of chronic disease down.” He assured that this money is not taken from any other health priorities or programs.
Mr Justin Mohamed, Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) revealed that this new policy has six high priority areas that will address problems among men from different ages, regions, populations, communities etc. He said, “Many Aboriginal men took part in meetings to develop NACCHO’s own Aboriginal Male Health policy and also contributed to the government’s National Male Health Policy…Some of the needs Aboriginal men have identified included male wellness centres, a concept similar to men’s sheds, and more support for men’s roles as part of their family…The Prime Minister recognised these needs in the policy launch package with funding allocated for men’s sheds and the Strong Fathers, Strong Families programs for Aboriginal Men….In consultations, Aboriginal men have often highlighted the importance to their wellbeing of their ties to, and valued roles in, their families and communities….The allocation of $6m, out of the total $16.7m launch package, for the Strong Fathers, Strong Families program is a significant boost to Aboriginal men and Aboriginal families….This new funding can build on the valuable work already being done within urban, regional and remote Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services supporting men and families, which includes support for men’s groups and male wellness centres.” He added, “We welcome both the Prime Minister and Minister Warren Snowdon’s support for developing this policy.”
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