The Department of Health has marked this Men’s Health Week (14-20 June) by raising awareness of the preventable health problems facing Australian men and asking them: Who’s on your team?
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said Healthy Male, a national men’s health information organisation, was reminding men that staying connected with their team and seeking help early was vital for supporting and maintaining good health and wellbeing.
“Your team can include friends, family, work colleagues, community groups and health professionals and this connection has never been more important during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Hunt said.
“It is particularly important to stay connected with health services and online health information because we know that men are less likely to seek medical advice.”
He said one of the health issues exclusive to men was prostate cancer, which was 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 15 new prostate care nurses will be employed in health services or cancer centres across Australia in 2021-22,” Mr Hunt said.
“Another way men can connect and support each other is through the more than 1,000 Men’s Sheds around Australia, which the Government supports with $1 million worth of grants each year.”
Minister for Regional Health, Mark Coulton said Men’s Sheds provided a safe and friendly environment for men to gather and work on meaningful projects, with the ultimate aim of improving the health and wellbeing of their members.
“I am pleased to announce that work will soon begin on the $1.5 million Regional Coordinators for Men’s Sheds Initiative, which helps Men’s Sheds to connect with local health services and promote health events for their members,” Mr Coulton said.
Further information on Men’s Health Week can be accessed at this PS News link and more details about Men’s Sheds can be found at this link.
