see also ... Clinical Skills Canberra
PHC 2000 Rural Workplace RHC

Your Choice Good Health For Males

Bernard Denner, MACA Health Educator
Centre for Advancement of Men's Health
and Mallee Track Health & Community Service Ouyen Vic.
PO Box CP1403 Mildura Victoria, Australia 3501
bernard@mannet.com.au

This Paper will demonstrate the value of the Men's Health Information Session for males conducted in a range of settings over 9 years across Australia and Canada in 2001 based on findings of the Man Model of Health Promotion Program (and Australian Bureau Statistics Mortality Atlas Data). This community Model has developed a pathway for the education and empowerment of males to recognise their risks and be preventative rather than reactionary.

The Centre for Advancement of Men's Health (CAMH) has developed a Model that clearly demonstrates when men are offered the opportunity 'in their space' they are interested in learning about health prevention. We will explore this process and strategy that supports men along pathways to health.

The paper will also explore the value of the development of government policy that recognises that males are as important as women in government health policy strategy for maintaining family health.

Most people assume that men, by virtue of their economic advantages in society, must be correspondingly healthy. The health statistics of western cultures demonstrate that being male can be a risk factor for premature mortality from infancy through to old age.

Men's Health Information sessions combined with Risk Assessment screening conducted in the community or in the workplace provides a pathway through a 'settings approach' that appeals to men. Reducing the risk factors that impact on men's health can only be achieved if men 'present' themselves to either a General Practitioner or participate in a risk assessment activity that supports men to recognise their risks prior to a 'near death' health episode. CAMH will also demonstrate the value of health information and access to information for men and the health industry via the web highlighting mannet.com.au that attracts eight thousand sessions per month from around the world.

Men's Health is an important community issue. In rural areas the health status of males across a range of health issues is heightened against their urban counterparts. The Paper will demonstrate through data and research the value and significant impact of programs conducted by the Mallee Track Health & Community Service Ouyen across its remote area that have had on the health status of local males. These programs are both portable and sustainable across a range of communities and ethnicities

The result of male 'unwell ness', both physically and mentally, affects families, relationships, communities and the workplace. Your choice Good health is an option men need to be offered by the health industry.