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

Understanding and Engaging Males
to Reduce Early Male Mortality

Bernard Denner, MACA Health Educator
Centre for Advancement of Men's Health
Affiliate Centre for Rural & Regional Health Education
PO Box 160 Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia 3450
bernard@mannet.com.au
www.mannet.com.au

This Paper will explore the value of the Men's Health Information Sessions based on findings of the Man Model of Health Promotion Program for males conducted in a range of settings over 9 years across Australia and Canada in 2001. 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.

CAMH is also committed to the development of government policy that recognises that males are as important as women in government health policy strategy.

Most people assume that men, by virtue of their economic advantages in society, must be correspondingly healthy. Those who look at the health statistics of western cultures know that being male can be a risk factor for premature mortality from infancy through to old age. Men need to also recognise that looking healthy does not immune you from early mortality.

It is important to recognise that men are different and that their needs are different. This knowledge provides the health industry with a greater ability to engage and achieve better outcomes earlier for men across a range of male issues.

Men's Health is an important community issue. The result of male 'unwell ness', both physically and mentally, affects families, relationships, communities and the workplace.