The Australian Men’s Health Forum today published a report reviewing the current state of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health.

Dr Kootsy Canuto’s PhD research study into barriers faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male health in accessing primary health care services (PHCSs) has highlighted the need for Indigenous men to have more input into making services male-friendly.

Published in December 2018, the study sought to investigate the motivators and enablers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men using existing services, what prevented them from doing so and what could be improved.

The Closing the Gap 2019 report tabled in Federal parliament on 14 February outlines targets that have been met and those which have not been met across a range of areas relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

These include education, with the report highlighting key gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in areas such as literacy, numeracy and school enrolment.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men have rarely rated a mention within discussions of parenting; their roles and responsibilities largely neglected or ignored.

Beale Street in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, along the Mississippi River is famously known as the home of the blues. It’s 2.9 km stretch is also synonymous with the pain and struggle of black America, depicted by James Baldwin in his book If Beale Street Could Talk, now a feature film from director Barry Jenkins’ (a follow-up to the Academy Award-winning Moonlight). 

This Wednesday (21 March 2019) marks this year's Close The Gap Day, which focuses on tackling the poorer health of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples when compared to the non-Indigenous population, with the aims of closing the Indigenous Health gap by 2030.

An Aboriginal men’s group in Airds, NSW, is helping to improve men’s health by making the local health services more accessible.

A mini-series developed by actor and television presenter Ernie Dingo has inspired the Federal Government to invest one million dollars into an indigenous men’s health initiative.

Dingo, who comes from the Yamatji people of the Murchison region of Western Australia, partnered with documentary filmmaker Tom Hearn to produce a four-part mini-series centered around ‘fireside yarns’ with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.

More Indigenous Health Workers, including those specialising in men’s health, are needed to meet the health needs of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population.

The Australian Men's Health Forum is offering twenty 20 scholarship places worth $625 each to Male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workers wanting to attend the 9th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health Convention, which takes place during the National Men's Health Gathering in Parramatta on 12th and 13th November, 2018. The scholarships will provide free entry to the Convention.