ADAM STEER, PRESENTER: Let’s move from that to this. I’m going to throw a few stats at you, kind of a game of “Who am I?”.
They make up less than half the Australian population. They’re heavier, eat fewer vegetables, more likely to live in poverty or be homeless, have a much lower life expectancy, and are more likely to die from injury or cancer. They make up 96% of all workplace deaths. They’re also less likely to go to hospital or use Medicare services. Who am I?
Well, I’m one, and you might be too, because we’re talking about Aussie men. Joining me is former Olympian and Labor MP, Dan Repacholi, the Federal Government’s Special Envoy for Men’s Health, who’s in Darwin today.
DAN REPACHOLI MP, SPECIAL ENVOY FOR MEN’S HEALTH: G’day Adam, and g’day to your listeners. Yeah, those are some pretty shocking stats, and sadly, they’re true.
STEER: They really are damning. So what’s going on? Why aren’t we doing more to help men?
REPACHOLI: You’re right, they’re damning. And I liked the guessing game because it really hits home. The truth is, us blokes just don’t take our health as seriously as we should. We don’t go to the GP, we don’t have the conversations, and we often just hope things will sort themselves out.
What I’m trying to do, and why I’m up here in the NT, is to get men talking, checking in with their mates, seeing their doctors, and actually looking after themselves. We’re visiting community groups right across the Territory to listen and learn what’s happening here on the ground.
STEER: You’ve been travelling around the country doing this. What have you been hearing from men and men’s groups? What are some of the barriers?
REPACHOLI: The biggest barrier is ourselves. It’s confidence, or maybe stubbornness, that stops us from having those health conversations. I’ve heard that same message right around the country.
Every region’s a bit different. What you hear in the Hunter is different to what you hear here in the NT, but one thing’s universal: blokes need to get better at opening up and putting their health first. We’ve got to stop taking risks and start looking after ourselves.
STEER: There’s a lot to unpack there because men are more likely to take risks, whether it’s smoking, drinking, or physical stuff that leads to injury. But at the same time, they’re less likely to talk about or investigate their health. I’d imagine that’s something you’ve seen everywhere?
REPACHOLI: Absolutely. That’s universal. Sixty percent of men will wait at least a week to see a GP even when they know something’s wrong. And get this, a third of those men will wait four weeks. Four weeks.
I’ve done it myself, thinking, “It’ll get better,” or “I’ll deal with it next week.” But it usually doesn’t get better. We put things off, whether it’s getting that mole checked, putting the cream on our face, or booking the appointment, we just delay it. Meanwhile, women are miles ahead. They book the appointments, talk to their friends, and stay on top of it.
STEER: So how do we get blokes to change that mindset?
REPACHOLI: It’s about awareness, and listening to the people around us, our partners, our mates, our kids. When they tell us to see a doctor, we’ve got to actually go.
And we’ve also got to make spaces where men feel comfortable talking. Blokes might not sit face to face and chat like this, but we’re good at talking shoulder to shoulder, working on a project, fishing, or being at the shed.
That’s why I’m here for ShedFest NT, where men’s sheds from all over the Territory are coming together. The sheds do amazing work, especially for older men, but younger fellas are starting to come along too. It’s a place where you can have a yarn, hang a bit of flak on each other, and actually open up. That’s what this is all about.
STEER: From the government’s perspective, do we need to rethink how we design health services to make them more appealing or accessible to men?
REPACHOLI: We do. Prevention and early intervention are the best ways to save lives, and we know that. That’s exactly why the Albanese Government created this new role, the first ever Special Envoy for Men’s Health in Australia.
My goal is to drive generational change so that for our kids and grandkids, it’s normal for men to go to the doctor, normal to talk about health, and normal to look after ourselves.
Right now, men die on average five years earlier than women. In rural and remote areas, that gap can be up to 13 years. That’s massive, and we’ve got to turn it around.
STEER: Well, we’ll be keen to hear what comes out of your work, and enjoy the ShedFest today.
REPACHOLI: Thanks, Adam. I can’t wait. Bring it on, Shedders.
STEER: That’s Dan Repacholi, Federal Labor MP and Special Envoy for Men’s Health. Almost time for the latest news on ABC Darwin.