Labor promises funding for Movember, Men's Sheds and men's health
With just over a week to go before the election, the ALP has committed $32 million of spending on men's health projects if the Albanese Labor Government is re-elected. At the time of publishing, we understand the promise will be matched by The Coalition.
According to a statement issued by the ALP, the funding comprises:
$18.7 million to Movember
Funding to Movember will include $11.3 million for Movember to provide men’s health care training to primary health care workers, and to develop a campaign to encourage men to visit the doctor. The training will be based on Movember’s existing Men in Mind program for mental health workers and will help over 60,000 doctors and nurses support men to get the health care they need.
An additional $7.4 million will be allocated to expand Movember's Ahead of the Game program, delivered in partnership with the AFL, that equips boys and young men in sporting environments with emotional resilience and teaches them to seek help when they need it.
$8.3 million to Men's Sheds
$8.3 million to support another two years of Men’s Shed Initiative’s National Shed Development Program, providing grants of up to $10,000 to individual Men’s Sheds. It will also support the Australian Men’s Sheds Association to deliver new health promotion and prevention programs.
$3.0 million to Healthy Male
Healthy Male will receive funding to support the delivery of Plus Paternal Initiative, a program that helps men prepare for fatherhood and supports the development of good parenting skills during the perinatal period.
$2.0 million to the Black Dog Institute
The Black Dog Institute will receive funding to research men’s mental health and suicide prevention at the Danny Frawley Centre for Health and Wellbeing – supporting St Kilda Football Club’s annual AFL ‘Spud’s Game ‘at the MCG, which raises community awareness to fight men's mental ill health.
Men's health funding on the rise
The promise of $32m of funding for men's health projects in the next parliament is a significant increase on the $22.5m specifically allocated to men's health during the last parliament.
It is welcome news for campaigners who have advocated for more Government funding to be allocated to men's health ahead of the election.
According to analysis by the Australian Men's Health Forum, the first Albanese Government allocated nearly $1.4 billion to men's health and women's health. Around 98% of that funding was allocated to improving women’s health, with less than 2% directed towards improving men’s health.
In the final budget before the election, $792.9m was committed to women's health, with no funding allocated to men's health.
$18.7 million to Movember
Funding to Movember will include $11.3 million for Movember to provide men’s health care training to primary health care workers, and to develop a campaign to encourage men to visit the doctor. The training will be based on Movember’s existing Men in Mind program for mental health workers and will help over 60,000 doctors and nurses support men to get the health care they need.
An additional $7.4 million will be allocated to expand Movember's Ahead of the Game program, delivered in partnership with the AFL, that equips boys and young men in sporting environments with emotional resilience and teaches them to seek help when they need it.
$8.3 million to Men's Sheds
$8.3 million to support another two years of Men’s Shed Initiative’s National Shed Development Program, providing grants of up to $10,000 to individual Men’s Sheds. It will also support the Australian Men’s Sheds Association to deliver new health promotion and prevention programs.
$3.0 million to Healthy Male
Healthy Male will receive funding to support the delivery of Plus Paternal Initiative, a program that helps men prepare for fatherhood and supports the development of good parenting skills during the perinatal period.
$2.0 million to the Black Dog Institute
The Black Dog Institute will receive funding to research men’s mental health and suicide prevention at the Danny Frawley Centre for Health and Wellbeing – supporting St Kilda Football Club’s annual AFL ‘Spud’s Game ‘at the MCG, which raises community awareness to fight men's mental ill health.
Men's health funding on the rise
The promise of $32m of funding for men's health projects in the next parliament is a significant increase on the $22.5m specifically allocated to men's health during the last parliament.
It is welcome news for campaigners who have advocated for more Government funding to be allocated to men's health ahead of the election.
According to analysis by the Australian Men's Health Forum, the first Albanese Government allocated nearly $1.4 billion to men's health and women's health. Around 98% of that funding was allocated to improving women’s health, with less than 2% directed towards improving men’s health.
In the final budget before the election, $792.9m was committed to women's health, with no funding allocated to men's health.
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