This Men’s Health Week, people are being encouraged to check up on the men and boys in their lives.
On Tuesday, June 13, Western Sydney University’s (WSUs) Centre for Male Health will officially kick-off Men’s Health Week at an event held at Parramatta’s Commbank Stadium.
Across seven days, thousands of community members across the nation are expected to host or attend events in support of this year’s theme, ‘Healthy Habits’.
The theme focuses on supporting men and boys to create physically, mentally and emotionally healthy environments in the home, workplace and in social settings.
The Parramatta event will also see a range of special guests like Cam Merchant, from Gotcha4Life and ‘Married at First Sight’, take to the stage to discuss men’s health.
The Centre for Male Health’s Dr Neil Hall highlighted that we can all play a role in increasing awareness for men and boys’ health.
“Being able to check in and have a check up with your doctor on an annual basis, those kind of individual oriented healthy habits are important for men to consider and for their families to help them to consider,” he said.
“It’s not just about an individual looking out for their own health but actually being able to check in with their mates and developing that habit of looking out for their mates, seeing how they’re going. Men’s health is not just men’s business it’s actually the whole community’s business… everyone has a part to play.”
A number of important topics – ‘check-up’, ‘check in’, ‘healthy lifestyles’ and ‘get involved’ – will be explored at the event and across the week.
Associate Professor Emma George, Director of the Centre for Male Health, said the ongoing importance of supportive environments can play an important role in shaping habits and health behaviours.
“This Men’s Health Week we are calling on men and boys to make a change in their lives and improve their health and wellbeing by building sustainable, healthy habits,” she said.
“This could be taking the time for regular health checks, increasing exercise and improving diet, joining a new social group, or simply checking in with a mate for a chat.”
Hall added that making simple, daily changes will have a great impact, with no better time to start making a change than during Men’s Health Week.
“The simple thing is, just pick up the phone and ring your father or your brother or your son and just say’ G’day, how are you going?’,” he said.
“We all need to work together to support the men in our lives.”
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.