The Australian Government is investing $3 million to support the mental health and wellbeing of boys and men, by backing new research from Flinders University that responds to significant gaps in evidence and support for boys’ and men’s mental health.
This investment will be used to help establish the ‘WellMen’: Centre for the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Boys and Men, which will be led by Professor James Smith of Flinders University.
Professor Smith and his team are aiming to improve the mental health and wellbeing of boys and men in Australia by working with them to develop new strategies to promote mental health at critical life stages and in places where they feel most comfortable including schools, sports clubs, and online. The project will also lead to developing, supporting and growing the boys' and men's mental health promotion in the workforce.
WellMen will be supported by a range of industry partners including the Movember Institute of Men’s Health, The Man Cave and Deadly Male.
This funding forms part of a larger investment of $66 million under NHMRC’s Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) 2026 grant opportunity. The CRE scheme provides support for teams of researchers to pursue collaborative research and develop capacity in basic science research, clinical research, health services research and public health research.
Read more about the projects funded on NHMRC’s website.
Quotes attributable to Special Envoy for Men’s Health, Dan Repacholi MP:
“The Australian Government is proud to support this important research that brings together leading researchers across various facets of men’s health into one integrated, multidisciplinary project.
“Too many Australian men and boys are struggling with their mental health, and we need to do more to make sure support reaches them in the places and ways that work for them.
“The WellMen CRE is a critical piece of the puzzle that will help us tackle the ongoing national crisis of men’s and boys’ mental health.”
Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO Professor Steve Wesselingh:
“Health and medical research have the power to change lives by building the evidence we need to improve health outcomes for people across Australia.
“Through NHMRC’s Centre of Research Excellence scheme, we are supporting high quality, collaborative research that can be translated into better policy, practice and care.
“This investment will help build the skills, partnerships and research workforce needed to respond to priority health challenges, such as men’s and boys’ mental health and deliver lasting benefits for the community.”
Quotes attributable to CRE Director, Professor James Smith:
“WellMen intentionally brings together researchers, health professionals, policymakers, industry partners and consumers to co-design mental health research priorities that are critical for advancing boys and men’s mental health and wellbeing in Australia.
“WellMen represents a critical milestone in men’s mental health research in Australia, with significant potential to shape mental health promotion and prevention investments that are appropriately tailored to the needs of boys and men, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds.
“WellMen provides critical infrastructure to invest in the next generation of men’s mental health researchers in Australia, including stronger national and international research partnerships and co-ordination.”
Quotes attributable to Movember Institute of Men’s Health Chief Impact Officer, Professor Simon Rice:
“The WellMen CRE will create critical opportunities for capacity development and knowledge gain for men’s mental health scholarship and practice both here in Australia and internationally.
The Movember Institute of Men’s Health is proud to be a partner in the CRE, including our direct role with two industry-based researchers embedded within the CRE work”.
Quotes attributable to The Man Cave CEO, Ben Vasiliou:
“Boys and men in Australia deserve a mental health system that is designed for them, not adapted for them as an afterthought.
WellMen gives us a genuine chance to build that, and The Man Cave is ready to make that happen.”
Quotes attributable to Deadly Male Board Director, Jason Bonson:
“Deadly Male is delighted to be partnering with WellMen researchers to build a stronger evidence base and to support knowledge translation activities.
“These activities are aimed at improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male social and emotional wellbeing through community led research that informs strengths based and culturally relevant solutions.”
Quotes attributable to nineteen year old Peter Susanto from the Northern Territory:
“Investing in ‘WellMen’ does not just mean delivering crucial research to support evidence based, localised and sustainable solutions for creating well men - the ripple effect of boys and men living productive, healthy and peaceful lives benefits the entire community.”