Australia: DIY Male Health Toolboxes for Men’s Sheds

Submitted by Minuteman on Tue, 2011-06-14 11:25

Link to media release here. Excerpt:

'The Australian Government is funding DIY Male Health Toolboxes to be sent to men’s sheds around the country.

The announcement by the Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, was made as he launched Men’s Health Week with Australian Men’s Shed Association Patron Tim Mathieson in Canberra today.

“These are actual metal toolbox that will contain a combination of health promotion materials featuring resources suitable to a shed environment.

“We know that men don’t always feel comfortable picking up a brochure in public – so these promotion materials such as carpenter’s pencils, tape measures, and magnetic clips will be more subtle and hopefully infiltrate sheds with positive health-related messages.”

Mr Mathieson and Mr Snowdon today joined Brumbies players for free health checks provided by ACT Divisions of General Practice at the Sea Scout’s Men’s Shed in Tuggeranong.

Mr Snowdon said he was also pleased to launch a new report funded by the Australian Government and conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) which suggest many males remain at risk of poor health.

“These toolboxes are a timely reminder for men to address some of the very serious issues raised in AIHW’s The Health of Australian Males report.

“This report shows some disturbing data, including that less than five per cent of males eat sufficient fruit and vegetables and two-thirds of adult males are overweight or obese.

“Men need to make a difference to their own health by taking positive health action – now.'

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'...pleased to launch a new report funded by the Australian Government... which suggest many males remain at risk of poor health'

I'll bet he was pleased to beat Health Mistress Roxon to it.

Minuteman

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Submitted by Minuteman on Tue, 2011-06-14 11:28

..but this just seems patronising. Yes we need to encourage men to be more aware of their health, but to do that we need to raise the profile of men's health further. By alluding to sheds we're saying men's health issues need to be kept seperate, or in effect men's health isn't in any way a mainstream issue. 'Let's keep those men and their little ailments in the shed where they belong'.

Oh, and did you notice it was the 'Minister for Indigenous Health' I assume Indigenous in an Australian context means 'Aboriginal'. Where was the Minister for Men's Health? Of course, I don't suppose there is one.

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Submitted by sirprince on Tue, 2011-06-14 13:30