Celebrating the 2022 Men’s Health Award Winners
Five national winners and nine People’s Choice Awards were announced in a special men’s health event on Wednesday, bringing to a close the 2022 Men’s Health Awards, presented by the Australian Men’s Health Forum.
The Getting Men Moving Award was won by Michael Murphy, founder of Beyond the Barbell in Victoria. Michael launched the Beyond The Barbell men's mental health program in 2019 because he saw a gap for men to gather in a safe and friendly environment. The program is gym-based and focused on "lifting the stigma of mental health". One of its programs called Move for Men's Health runs twice a week and is delivered free to men of all backgrounds and abilities, who are given an opportunity to link with peer-supports, discuss their mental health and benefit from the connection of others.
The Contribution to Men’s Work Award was won by Brendan Sullivan, one of a core group of men who started the annual Tasmanian Men's Gathering, which is now celebrating its 25th year and has touched the lives of hundreds of men. Brendan was the inaugural President of TasMen, the organisation that hosts the Gathering, and is currently President of Men's Resources Tasmania. Brendan operates as an Executive Coach and brings the essence and passion of men's work into his corporate and community work. As one supporter said: "Brendan is a central pillar in the Tasmanian men’s wellbeing community. Without his support, influence and leadership many of Tasmania’s male wellbeing projects simply wouldn’t be the same."
The Indigenous Men’s Health Award was won by Hoops 4 Health, and founder Timmy Duggan, the first person from the Northern Territory to play in the National Basketball League. Timmy set up Hoops 4 Health in 1995, a social and emotional health and well-being program using basketball to improve the lives and health of Aboriginal men and boys through a range of initiatives. These include delivering 500 sessions to youth in the Don Dale detention centre; connecting with 10,000 youth in remote communities and providing weekly sessions for 10-16-year old’s living in Darwin through the Hoops 4 Health Academy. In 2022 Hoops 4 Health was the winner of the Suicide Prevention Australia Communities in Action Award for the Northern Territory.
The Best Men’s Mental Health Project was won by This Is A Conversation Starter (TIACS) established by the founders of the TradeMutt workwear brand, which makes eye-catching workwear designed to start conversations about mental health. The TIACS clinical team consists of experienced counsellors and mental health professionals and is available Monday to Friday, 8am to 10pm. TIACS has supported around 8,000 clients with half of first-time callers saying they have never contacted a mental health provider before.
The Men’s Health Leaders Award was won by Tomorrow Man, which facilitates workshops for boys, teachers and parents in schools, and men in sporting clubs, workplaces and communities. The organisation explores how men can look after themselves, their mates and their families better while "carving out our own version of the Aussie man". Tomorrow Man aims to disrupt old school male stereotypes; build and practice using emotional muscle and define a healthier version of masculinity to live by.
Winners were selected by specialist judging panels from AMHF’s vast membership base, and shortlisted from all groups, individuals and projects nominated across Australia.
The State and Territory People’s Choice Awards were made to those with the most number of votes from more than 3000 counted.
An additional People’s Choice Award in the Indigenous Men’s Health category was awarded to Brian Dowd, the WalkAbout Barber. The Walkabout Barber, is a mobile barber and trauma support service that provides support to rural and remote communities. Brian is a suicide survivor who spent three years undergoing a range of rehabilitation programs and workshops after recovering from an attempt on his own life. He then trained in trauma counselling before setting up Walkabout Barber Enterprises in Warner’s Bay around four years ago.
Congratulation to State and Territory People’s Choice winners
IncoLink – Bluehats – Victoria. Incolink delivers mental health education via onsite seminars and training of a peer support network. Incolink has trained over 300 Bluehats who know what signs to look for that someone might be thinking about suicide, and how to ask the right questions.
Brodie Germaine – Queensland. Brodie is a proud Pitta-Pitta & Wakaya Man who was born and raised on Kalkadoon Country, Mount Isa. He works full-time at an Aboriginal Medical Service as a Family Wellbeing Worker in Mount Isa, Doomadgee, Burketown and Normanton as well as running his own Personal Training business - Brodie Germaine Fitness.
The Man Walk Darwin – Northern Territory. The Man Walk Darwin has thrived thanks to the leadership of local man Jimmy Bouhoris, who makes sure the walks continue as a way for blokes to get moving and to have a yarn along the way about everyday issues.
Barbers For Life – Tasmania. Funded by the City of Launceston, Barbers For Life is a community-led network of barbers who have gathered to support the community and raise awareness around suicide prevention. The barbers are given Mental Health First Aid training through a set of mental health support tools and resources.
Ken Oath Barbershop - ACT. The Canberra-based mobile service provides haircuts alongside mental health support to men who wouldn't generally access mainstream services. The mobile shop is the size of a tiny home using coloured steel, salvaged wood pallets and even discarded doors from Old Parliament House. It was creating by barber Sam Dowdall - a trained crisis counsellor known as "The Barter Barber" – who previously spent five years driving around New Zealand offering crisis counselling to people all over the country as he cut their hair.
WNOW (When No One's Watching) – NSW - is a men's mental health group in Sydney's eastern suburbs that gets together at 6am every Wednesday morning for a swim, workout, coffee and chat. They want to create a community where men are comfortable to take their ‘armour off’ and be their authentic selves, feeling supported and safe in a community of like-minded men.
Goodwood Saints Football Club – South Australia. Nominated in the Best Men’s Mental Project category, the club runs a mental health program called the "Saints Healthy Minds". The project targets past and present players, coaches, and team managers to assist in identifying issues, helping young players to build their mental strength and empower them to speak out.
Men’s Talk AU – Western Australia. Men’s Talk AU burst onto the men's health scene in WA last year with a passion to "collaborate with the community to mainstream conversation around wellness and masculinity for all who identify as male". In November 2021, the group hosted the Men’s’ Talk Life Expo in Scarborough, featuring a variety of exhibitors and displays to provide advice, assistance, and information on a range of topics for men of all ages.
Congratulates to everyone nominated in the 2022 Men's Health Awards, to those who were shortlisted, and to the winners.