Men’s health in Australia: A review of policy and practice
Project title: Gap Analysis of Evidence for Male Health
Project lead: Dr Mark Robinson
Research team: Dr Alice Campbell, Dave Porter, Dr Natalie Thomas, Dr Jacquie McGraw, Elizabeth Hitches, Sophie Austerberry, Elizabeth Kennedy, Gina Nuttall
Expert Advisers: Professor James Smith (Principal Project Adviser), Associate Professor Fran Boyle, Associate Professor Kootsy Canuto, Dr Kim Edmunds, Dr Zac Seidler
Client: Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government
Client project team: Male Health Team, Health Equity Branch, Population Health Division
Project dates: January 2023 – June 2024
Overview
In Australia, men’s life expectancy is 4 years lower than women’s, many male deaths are due to preventable causes, and certain male population groups experience a higher burden of adverse health outcomes. To address these issues, in 2019 the Australian Government released the National Men’s Health Strategy 2020–2030, which aims to ensure every boy and man in Australia is supported to live a long, fulfilling and healthy life. One of the objectives of the strategy is to build an evidence base for improving the health and wellbeing of Australian men and boys (for more information visit the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Men’s Health online portal).
ISSR has been engaged by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to undertake a Gap Analysis of Evidence for Male Health encompassing an in-depth and rigorous review of current research and evidence for male health in the Australian context. The project will focus on evidence and policy for male health from 2010, when the first National Male Health Policy was released. The project will establish a sound evidence base for future funding initiatives for men’s health and inform the Australian Government’s future work for improving the health and wellbeing of men and boys. The Gap Analysis of Evidence for Male Health aligns and builds upon the National Male Health Policy 2010–2020 and the National Men’s Health Strategy 2020–2030.
About the project
The main aim of the Gap Analysis of Evidence for Male Health (‘Men’s Health Review’) is to identify, collate and review existing research and evidence for men’s health in the Australian context since the release of the first National Male Health Policy in 2010, and provide recommendations for future research and strategies for improving the health and wellbeing of Australian males. The project will involve three distinct, but related, review focus areas:
Identification and review of current policies, action plans, and strategies on men’s health across all Australian jurisdictions.
Identification and review of best practice and evidence-informed practice on men’s health in the peer reviewed and grey literature (including existing evaluations of programs in men’s health research).
Identification and review of potential data sources on men’s health.
Findings will be synthesised and critically analysed to provide key recommendations and advice to fill identified gaps and realise opportunities, setting suitable future priorities for men’s health.
Key expert stakeholders for men’s health will also be engaged throughout the project to ensure relevant sources and gaps in evidence are identified, and valuable and varied insights and perspectives captured. Stakeholders will be engaged in the project through interviews, surveys and ad-hoc consultation. Data from stakeholder engagement activities will be analysed and interpreted to iteratively inform the project.
The Gap Analysis of Evidence for Male Health will be significant for expanding the existing evidence base for men’s health in relation to the National Men’s Health Strategy 2020–2030 and to inform future work and strategies for improving the health and wellbeing of men and boys in Australia.