Awards celebrate role of Indigenous men's health workers
The vital role of Indigenous men's health workers will be celebrated at the 2022 Men's Health Awards.
It is widely known that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males often experience some of the worst health outcomes in Australia, including shorter life expectancy and some of the highest suicide rates in the world.
It is perhaps less well known that some of the country's best men's health projects are delivered by Indigenous men's health workers, taking culturally sensitive and strengths-based approaches to improving the lives and health of the men and boys in their communities.
To acknowledge some of the vital work undertaken by Indigenous men's health workers and projects around Australia, the 2022 Men's Health Awards will include the Indigenous Men's Health Award category.
Nominations for the Indigenous Men's Health Award 2022 can be made online before June 12.
To nominate an individual, project or organisation for consideration, simple fill out this form and say a few words about who you are nominating and why.
2020 award to Dr Mick Adams
The Local Men's Health Hero Award is for an individual, male or female, who has made a significant difference by taking action to improve the lives and health of men and boys at a local level was won in 2020 by Dr Mick Adams, (Uncle Mick to most) a long-serving champion of men's health and Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.
Mick is well-known for his work to ensure that male health issues are promoted and placed on the national and international agenda through advocacy, research, publication and health management. Mick has been working in the health industry for over 30 years.
He has worked in both government and the community-controlled health service sector and has been nominated as a representative to advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues on national and international boards and national and international conferences.
Find out more about Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
Camping On Country - an Indigenous men's health program run by BUSH TV - won the Best men's Group or Program Award, also in 2020. Each month the program visits a remote community and runs camps which include local leadership.
At the camps they provide a space for local leaders to discuss what health issues they face in their community, what programs are working or not working and work with the men to articulate their ideas for a health program targeted at their own men. They partner with health service providers to ensure the camps are safe, healthy and inspiring.
Culture, Language and Law play a significant role in the camps and are embedded into the development of localised programs after the camps.
