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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-06-13 Daily Xml
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MEN'S HEALTH

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Can the minister inform the house about actions to support the health of men in South Australia?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (14:30): I thank the member for Light for his question and I would start by commending the member for Light for taking a very strong personal as well as political interest in men's health in his local community. I understand that the member has teamed up with Willo's Men's Shed to support a number of local events including a men's health and information stall at the local Lions Sunday markets at the Gawler Railway Station.

We know that men can be less inclined to take a proactive approach to their health and seek early intervention when they are experiencing health issues. A report commissioned by SA Health in 2009, called 'Men's health and wellbeing in South Australia: an analysis of service use and outcomes by socioeconomic status', reaffirmed the concerning health risks for men. Premature death rates for males at all ages from zero to 74 was 68 per cent higher than those for women.

The report also showed that men are more likely than women to smoke, are more likely to consume alcohol at risky levels and have higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and vascular disease.

The Hon. R.B. Such: And suicide.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: And suicide, as the member for Fisher said. I am not sure if that is the case, but I take his word for it. The average life expectancy of men in South Australia is now 79.3 years compared to 83.9 years for women. Interestingly, the difference in age expectancy for men and women was roughly the same in 1890 when life expectancy for men was then 49.5 years and life expectancy for women at that time was 53 years. It is extraordinary that over 120 years, we have added 30 years to the life expectancy of everyone on average, but there is still that three-year difference between men and women.

Men's Health Week, which is being celebrated from 11 to 17 June, is an opportunity to put the spotlight on men's health and encourage men to think more about their health and wellbeing. In South Australia, a number of official events are taking place, including a Blokes' Night Out at Salisbury—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: —I don't recommend that one for the Leader of the Opposition—a men's community fun day at Whyalla, a power-packed evening on prostate health at Hawthorn and a 'men on the move' exercise session at Edithburgh. It is easy to make cheap jokes about some of these titles, but they are important ways to engage men in thinking about their health. Events are listed on the Men's Health Week website.

Men's health is part of the core services provided to all South Australians by our government and we have a little bit of money—$230,000 each year—to specifically commit to research projects related to men's health. Nine projects are being funded this year including a Trojan's Trek to support veterans suffering from military-induced stress, an Aboriginal male health and wellbeing project officer and a project that aims to reduce the number of people who are discharged into homelessness from the Royal Adelaide Hospital Emergency Department, the majority of whom are indeed men.

Nationally there is a website—www.whatsyourscore.com.au—where men aged 25 and over can complete a survey that compares their results with some of Australia's leading sporting celebrities and media personalities. I would invite all my colleagues to try that one out.

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