The Australian Government is today launching the national Healthy Men Community Conversations project to support the health and wellbeing of men and boys.
The project will deliver a series of community conversations across the country, bringing together the public and organisations working to support men's health and wellbeing, as well as those engaged in family, domestic and sexual violence prevention.
The project aims to explore and encourage help-seeking and connection for mental, physical and social wellbeing and health among men.
The project will be led by the Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence, Ged Kearney, and the Special Envoy for Men's Health, Dan Repacholi.
The National Healthy Men Community Conversations will:
- Strengthen connections between men and local and national health and support services and encourage help-seeking
- Engage in conversations and evidence sharing about respectful relationships and what it means to be a happy, healthy and supported man.
Conversations from the tour will inform future government policies and programs as part of the Australian Government's broader commitment to working in partnership with communities to improve outcomes for men and boys, while supporting safer, healthier relationships for all Australians.
The project kicks off with a Healthy Masculinities Roundtable hosted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, with representatives from government and academia bringing expertise in family safety and services, legal affairs, gender-based violence, online safety, gender equality, social cohesion and men's physical and emotional health.
The Australian Government is also extending funding for the Healthy Masculinities Trial and Evaluation Program (Healthy MaTE) through to 30 June 2027.
Healthy MaTE trials and evaluates schools and community based activities to encourage healthy expressions of masculinity and promote respectful relationships among boys and young men. It is funded through the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32. The 12-month extension, supported by an additional $861,000.
