Men's Health Week - Time for men to put their health first
Men's Health Week (June 15 to June 21) is an opportunity to encourage Australian men and boys to prioritise their health and wellbeing and to start conversations that can save lives.
This year, during Men’s Health Week, the Federal Government’s Special Envoy for Men’s Health, Dan Repacholi, is focusing on four important issues affecting Australian men: encouraging men to visit their GP, improving First Nations men’s health, increasing awareness of bowel cancer, and promoting better sexual health in the GBTIQ+ community.
Despite experiencing higher rates of chronic disease, preventable illness and premature death, many men continue to delay seeking medical care. Research shows around 60 per cent of men wait more than a week to see a doctor when experiencing symptoms, while one in three delay seeking help for more than a month.
The Men's Health Week campaign highlights the "101 Reasons to See Your GP" initiative by The Healthy Male, encouraging men to take proactive steps towards better health through regular check-ups, preventive screening and early intervention.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men continue to experience disproportionately high rates of chronic disease, poorer health outcomes and significantly higher rates of suicide than non-Indigenous Australians. Men’s Health Week is an important opportunity to support culturally safe, community-led health initiatives like Deadly Choices that encourage men to get checked, stay connected and seek support early.
The week also shines a spotlight on bowel cancer, one of Australia's most common cancers. Early detection through screening remains one of the most effective ways to reduce deaths from bowel cancer, yet many eligible men do not complete the simple screening test when it arrives in the mail.
Men’s sexual health is another key focus area. Sexual and reproductive health is recognised as one of the priority areas under the National Men’s Health Strategy 2020–2030, yet many men remain reluctant to discuss concerns with a healthcare professional. Men’s Health Week provides an opportunity to challenge stigma, improve health literacy and encourage men to seek support early, whether for physical health concerns, mental health challenges or preventative care.
Men's Health Week provides an opportunity to challenge stigma, improve health literacy and encourage men to seek support early, whether for physical health concerns, mental health challenges or preventative care.
Special Envoy Dan Repacholi, Member for Hunter: said,
"Us blokes are great at looking after everyone else, but we're not always great at looking after ourselves. Men's Health Week is about changing that.
"Whether it's your physical health, your mental health, bowel cancer screening or something that's been worrying you for a while, don't wait. Go and see your GP.
"A lot of men think getting checked out is a sign something's wrong. The truth is getting checked is one of the smartest things you can do.
“To make lasting change, we need men to see visiting a doctor or health professional as normal - not a big deal.”
"Too many families have lost dads, brothers, sons and mates because health issues weren't picked up early enough.
"For all those blokes out there: this week, do yourself a favour. Make the appointment, have the conversation and put your health first."
