DIY Male Health Toolboxes

14 June 2011

The Australian Government is funding DIY Male Health Toolboxes to be sent to men’s sheds around the country.

The announcement by the Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, was made as he launched Men’s Health Week with Australian Men’s Shed Association Patron Tim Mathieson in Canberra today.
“These are actual metal toolbox that will contain a combination of health promotion materials
featuring resources suitable to a shed environment.

“We know that men don’t always feel comfortable picking up a brochure in public – so these promotion materials such as carpenter’s pencils, tape measures, and magnetic clips will be more subtle and hopefully infiltrate sheds with positive health-related messages.”

Mr Mathieson and Mr Snowdon today joined Brumbies players for free health checks provided by ACT Divisions of General Practice at the Sea Scout’s Men’s Shed in Tuggeranong.

Mr Snowdon said he was also pleased to launch a new report funded by the Australian Government and conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) which suggest many males remain at risk of poor health.

“These toolboxes are a timely reminder for men to address some of the very serious issues raised in AIHW’s The Health of Australian Males report.

“This report shows some disturbing data, including that less than five per cent of males eat sufficient fruit and vegetables and two-thirds of adult males are overweight or obese.

“Men need to make a difference to their own health by taking positive health action – now.
“Eat more fruit and vegetables, lose weight, exercise more, think about your mental health and see your GP regularly – this is the call to action for Australian men as part of this year’s Men’s Health Week,” he said.

The AIHW report also found: [see further statistics attached]
nearly one-third have a chronic health condition such as cancer or diabeties; and
Australian men make fewer GP visits than women and only 40% of men discuss healthy lifestyle issues with health professionals

Mr Snowdon said the statistical bulletin provided by AIHW, was the first in a series being funded by the Australian Government.

To improve male health, Mr Snowdon said the Australian Government is providing:

• $10,000 grants to 20 Men’s Sheds for purchasing tools, renovations and support
• $2.2m to support the Australian Men’s Sheds Association to employ staff and develop new opportunities to engage men and their communities
• $6.9 m for Australia’s first national longitudinal study
• $6.8 m to support 13 organisations across Australia to promote the role of Indigenous fatherhood and encourage men to become more active in the lives of their children
• the nation’s first ever National Male Health Policy, aimed at promoting the importance of Australian men looking after their health and wellbeing

“All the work the Australian Government is undertaking is to support men to change their behaviour, both in terms of increasing their willingness to access health care and reducing the risks they take with their health,” Mr Snowdon said.

At the event a new program called “Spanner in the Works’ was launched. It will promote free health checks and guest speakers for Australian Men’s Sheds, through the Australian Men’s Shed Association.
This year’s National Men’s Health Week runs from 13 June - 19 June, with activities planned around the nation to raise the profile of men’s health.

The toolkits will be available from September 2011.

The AIHW report is available to download at:

http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/phe/141/aihw_20110614_12928.pdf

For more information, contact Mr Snowdon’s office (02) 6277 7820