menshealthaustralia.net

 Federal Minister for Men's Health Appointed

Alan Howe (Herald Sun, Melbourne) exclusively revealed this morning that, in a first for an Australian government, Northern Territory MP Warren Snowdon will be appointed Federal Minister for Men's Health. Snowdon will be asked to deal with the findings collected by the national men's health ambassadors as they convened meetings across the country this year to discuss men's health and to peer into the psychology of the shortest-lived of the species.

 How parenthood turns males into all-round good blokes

Becoming a father has a positive affect on men's health with 74 per cent of new dads saying the birth of a son or daughter motivated them to shape up to be there for their child's future. New fathers reported eating more healthily (35 per cent), exercising more (32 per cent), and cutting back on the booze (19 per cent) after the birth of their child. Others said they had stopped partying and started a weight-loss campaign after bringing their child home. Researchers at NorthWestern University in Chicago also found fathers were spending more time with their children and their involvement had hugely positive effects. Children reared by fathers who spent time with them and who were involved in their care and welfare were found to have greater language skills, higher academic achievements, higher self-esteem, lower depression and anxiety levels and less delinquent behaviour.

 What's a man gotta do?  

Great new musical show in WA by comedian Andrew Horabin - see website.

 Call to stop demonising men and boys

The NSW Government has confirmed making substantial errors in its current Discussion paper on NSW Domestic and Family Violence Strategy. In errata published on the Office for Women's Policy webpage, the Government admits errors that clearly over-inflate the female victimisation rate from partner assault by at least 65 per cent while downplaying the prevalence of violence against men by their former partners. Greg Andresen, spokesman for Men's Health Australia (MHA), said "it concerns us greatly that the Government's paper also demonised young boys by inferring that only boys who are exposed to domestic and family violence are more likely to perpetrate it as adults. When you read the research, it shows that all children exposed to violence risk suffering mental health, behavioural and learning difficulties in the short term, and perpetrating violence as adults in the long term."

 More to being dad than holding baby

Services for new and expectant dads are few and far between on the peninsula, but at Manly Hospital fathers-to-be are eased into their new role thanks to a male-only pre-natal class that runs in conjunction with the conventional, six-week group sessions for both partners. The brainchild of former Manly resident, Sean Tonnett, the concept of pre-natal classes for men was devised in response to his own experience of becoming a new dad. 'There was nothing out there when I had my first child, nothing pre-natally anyway,' he said. 'I was aware that men often talked about how great the experience of becoming a father is but my experience was very different to that. 'I didn't realise the impact that it would have on my relationship, lifestyle and on the household finances. It sent me into a spin.' While there are lots of articles and books on how to change a nappy and burp a baby, Mr Tonnett said there was little information available on deeper problems associated with new fatherhood or how to manage the couple's evolving relationship after the birth, from the male perspective. Soon after his son was born at Manly Hospital, Mr Tonnett, a qualified family relationship counsellor, set about writing course material for Transition to Fatherhood, the first male-only, pre-natal class on the northern beaches.

 Leave scheme 'ignores' key child benefit

In May, when the Federal Budget was released, the government announced the nation's first Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Scheme that takes effect in January. While it is clearly a step in the right direction for fathers who want time off to be with their new offspring, this scheme has attracted a fair amount of criticism from those who hoped it would be based on the Productivity Commission's model that recommended a two-week paternity leave component. Instead, the 18-week PPL scheme is loosely based around one or the other parent taking time off. Critics of the scheme say that by not offering paid leave to fathers, the government is ignoring benefits to families of having both a mother and father home immediately after the birth.