Victorian Health Department releases first Victorian Men’s health and wellbeing strategy 2010-2014

Joanna Birdseye, A/Director, Policy Co-ordination and Projects, Strategy, Policy and Finance with the Department of Health says “Although Victorian men record health outcomes among the best in the world, research points to a range of areas requiring further attention. Men have lower life expectancy, higher levels of avoidable death, and higher rates of most common causes of death including coronary heart disease, cancers, suicide and injuries.”

The Men’s health and wellbeing strategy is a foundation document that will guide change with the aim of delivering better health outcomes for all Victorian men and groups of men with the poorest health via three identified priority areas:

1. Reduce health inequalities and improve the quality and length of men’s lives by focusing work on the six identified priority conditions that have large gender-specific impacts on men.

2. Promote and facilitate men’s healthy living by supporting healthy lifestyles and strengthening men’s health knowledge and behaviours

3. Strengthen health and community service delivery to men by encouraging inclusive service models and service delivery practices.

The strategy will build on other existing Victorian Government programs and policies affecting men’s health and support collaborations with stakeholders in the non-government and corporate sectors. The directions set out in the strategy aim to ensure that Victorian men receive the best possible services and support to stay healthy and address illness when it arises.”

Electronic copies of the strategy can be downloaded from the links below.

 Men’s health and wellbeing strategy 2010–2014
 Men’s health and wellbeing strategy background paper
 Men’s health and wellbeing strategy background paper: summary

For questions about the strategy please contact Daniel Perkins, Senior Policy Advisor, Policy Coordination and Project Branch on (03) 9096 8757.