AMHF President Greg Millan looks back on a year of progress in men’s health
Long-time men’s health advocate Greg Millan says Governments have started to take men’s health seriously.
Stepping down as President of the Australian Men’s Health Forum, Millan’s final report (tabled at AMHF’s AGM on Tuesday 13 December) acknowledged the gains made in the men’s health sector and the important role played by AMHF.
“We are seeing more Government departments and jurisdictions reaching out to us for advice, particularly at a State and Territory level,” he wrote. “Of particular note is the progress made advocating for a male suicide prevention plan in Tasmania, which is made possible by the presence of a state-based peak body (Men’s Resources Tasmania)."
Millan, who remains committed to his work in the men’s health sector, said AMHF would continue to keep men’s health on the agenda as the new Labor Government’s health strategy takes shape.
One important and growing aspect of AMHF’s work was partnering with leading lights in the men’s health movement. These projects included a 12-month research project on the impacts of COVID-19 on men’s mental health with the Centre for Men’s Health at the University of Western Sydney and a seminar on military men’s health in Adelaide, delivered with the Freemason’s Centre for Men’s Health.
“We also became part of a consortium led by Movember that won funding through the National Men’s Health Strategy to review the way health professionals are trained to work with male clients.
“Our partnership with Suicide Prevention Australia led to the launch of the Doing It Tough website during Men’s Health Week for men in New South Wales.”
Another partnership was with Roses in the Ocean to establish a National Men’s Lived Experience of Suicide network.
Greg, AMHF President since 2019, will remain on the AMHF Board.
In a year of transition and consolidation, moving beyond the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Greg’s term as president saw significant gains made by AMHF, namely:
- Hosting the Men’s Health Connected online gathering for a third year, with approximately 500 participants.
- Staging the National Men’s Health Awards, which attracted 150 nominations and 3000 votes
- Promotion of the most successful International Men’s Day in Australia, with more than 200 events taking place and many adopting AMHF’s theme, ‘Make Time 4 Mates.’
AMHF extends its gratitude to Greg, a founding member of the Board and one of Australia’s leading experts on men’s health and well-being.