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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-11-15 Daily Xml
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Men's Health

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:32): Today marks the halfway mark of Movember. Movember is the main fundraising event for the Movember Foundation, which raises funds for research into illnesses and diseases which affect men's health. I encourage all members of this place to make a generous donation to the Movember campaign.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I already have.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. Also today I would like to speak about—and this is the main subject of my talk today—a local research centre that undertakes important research work into men's health. This Friday, there will be a function held at the Adelaide Convention Centre to mark 10 years since the establishment of the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health. The centre is the result of a unique cofunding partnership between the Freemasons Foundation, the charitable arm of freemasonry South Australia/Northern Territory, and the University of Adelaide.

The centre's mission is, firstly, to support a comprehensive research program to improve men's health; secondly, to support an early career researcher development program; and, finally, to translate research knowledge to increase public awareness and to inform health policy and practice. Since 2007, the Freemasons Foundation has contributed $3 million to the centre which has been matched by the University of Adelaide. I acknowledge all freemasons who have been behind the scenes fund-raising in their communities to support the important work of the Freemasons Foundation and the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health.

The centre takes a multidisciplinary approach to research. It brings together experts from health, the medical sciences, the social and behavioural sciences, engineering and the professions to collaborate in the interests of men's health. The centre supports a network of researchers at the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, and the network extends to the other two South Australian universities, the CSIRO and our health services.

The centre collaborates with centres of research excellence nationally and internationally, and for this reason it is world renowned. It is the only multidisciplinary men's research centre in Australia. Across the country, there are many centres specialising in various aspects of men's health, such as mental health or reproductive health, but not one centre that covers such a breadth of specialities relevant to men's health like the centre we have at Adelaide University.

The research undertaken by the centre also has implications for women's health and children's health. Last month, one of the country's leading prostate cancer researchers and founding member of the centre, Professor Wayne Tilley, and his colleagues were awarded the first ever combined grant from the Movember Foundation and the National Breast Cancer Foundation to transform the way that breast and prostate cancers are treated, recognising that the two cancers share many similarities.

The centre is working with the Robinson Research Institute to educate fathers on how poor health influences the health of their sperm and the subsequent health of offspring. Hopefully, these examples give an idea of the significance of the research currently being undertaken by the centre. The centre's program also focuses on social determinants of ill health and populations of men at greater health disadvantage, including farmers and Aboriginal men. My colleague the member for Florey and I are proud members of the board of patrons and have been serving the foundation in that capacity.

Senior endocrinologist Professor Gary Wittert has provided great leadership in his role as director. His contribution to the success of the centre cannot be overstated, and he is without doubt a world authority on men's health. Also, I would like to make particular note of Mr Robert Clyne OAM, the foundation's executive director, and his role in establishing the centre and its ongoing success. The centre has produced more than 300 scientific articles in peer-reviewed literature over the last 10 years and therefore influenced both health policy and health practice.

I would also make particular mention of the centre's MAILES study—which stands for Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress—the most comprehensive study of men's health and wellbeing with ageing. It involves men living in the northern and western suburbs of Adelaide. The centre's early activity contributed to the development of South Australia's men's health strategic framework from 2008 to 2012.

Finally, the centre contributes to the training and employment of South Australians. The centre has trained nearly 18 early career research fellows, many of whom are now leading their own research programs here and interstate. On behalf of the South Australian parliament, I would like to congratulate the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health on reaching its 10-year milestone and on its important contributions to this state and to the health and wellbeing of men in our community.

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