Men's Health and Wellbeing
Men's health and wellbeing is a national issue, but it is also one important to our local community. The Dunkley community is disproportionately impacted by suicide, with a higher rate than the state average.
Nationally, 1 in 2 people are impacted by suicide by the time they turn 25. Men aged 55-59 represent the largest increase in the age-specific suicide rate for Australians 15 and over.
Men and boys from all generations and walks of life also experience other issues, from social isolation and mental health conditions to prostate cancer and heart disease.
We need a strong local response to this issue, which is why I held the inaugural Dunkley Men's Health and Wellbeing Forum in November 2025, bringing local and national organisations, community leaders, and the Special Envoy for Men's Health, Dan Repacholi MP, together to begin to understand the gaps, needs, and opportunities.
Background
In my career as a youth worker and in the domestic and family violence sector, I ran programs for young people and adults experiencing hardship, including expeditions across the Kokoda Track.
I worked with many men and boys, which made me acutely aware of the scale of the issues they face as well as the need for prevention and early intervention programs and services to help them.
As the founder of the Women's Spirit Project, aimed at inspiring and empowering women experiencing disadvantage to recover, I would often receive correspondence and messages from people:
"What about men? There needs to be better support and more services like the Women's Spirit Project for men." I didn't disagree with them.
With this in mind, I have long wanted to use my influence to build a platform for men to discuss the issues they face and work towards building place-based solutions.
Research tells us that when a young person gets the help they need at 14 instead of 24, their life changes for the better.
Having a husband and son, Dave and Flynn, further inspired me to mobilise on this issue. As the Federal Member for Dunkley, I have the opportunity to work out what we need in our community for men and boys, with the two most important men in my life – leading the charge.
Building a Platform for Men
In early 2025, I met with four local men I knew in the men's health sector – Tom Mulvaney (Movember), Ben Vasilou (The Man Cave), Michael Simmons (Mental Health Safety Net), and Wayne Holdsworth (SmackTalk).
I shared with them my thoughts that we need a vehicle to bring men together to understand:
- the main issues they are experiencing
- what we have on offer
- what is working
- the opportunities that exist in the Dunkley community to improve collaboration that leads to better mental health and wellbeing programs and services
- how we can strengthen networks to ensure men are connected and don’t fall into depression or believe that taking their life is the only way out
I also reached out to my colleague Dan Repacholi MP, the first Special Envoy for Men's Health. Dan supported the idea to build a platform for men from Dunkley and attended the event to share his experiences and insights. We also agreed to share the findings with our colleagues in the Federal Government, to ensure we hear from a diverse range of men from across the nation.
Movember and The Man Cave agreed to support the event along with Frankston Dolphins Football Club, Mental Health Safety Net, and SmackTalk.
The Dunkley Men's Health and Wellbeing Forum
The Dunkley Men's Health and Wellbeing Forum was a wonderful community event – a room filled with honesty, hope, and ideas.
A cross-section of men and boys of all ages from the Dunkley community attended, along with councillors from Frankston City Council and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, students from local high schools, men's sheds, sports clubs, not-for-profits, and local residents.
Dave and Flynn emceed the event, speaking frankly about their lives as men. Dave mentioned his experiences with prostate cancer, knee reconstruction, and heart surgery. Flynn spoke courageously about what it's like growing up as a 19-year-old man today – the pressures to fit in, to be perfect, the pull of social media, and the need to stay grounded. Their honesty reminded us that men want to talk; they just need safe spaces to do it, without fear of judgement.
Dan Repacholi MP spoke about his work and insights since being appointed Special Envoy for Men's Health, as well as sharing some personal experiences on body image, prostate health, and the need to ask for help in a society that still tells men to "tough it out."
The presence of Movember, The Man Cave, and other organisations created this welcoming atmosphere. Every participant walked away having met a new friend or made a connection to collaborate with.
Most striking to me was how honestly the participants spoke. From school students to retirees, men showed vulnerability, opened up, and shared their stories with neither judgement nor bravado – just truth, connection, and sharing.
At the conclusion of the Forum, Dave and Flynn announced their commitment to form the Dunkley Men's Network, a working group that will meet to follow up on the ideas from the Forum – an ongoing platform of men, boys, and organisations to identify gaps and implement solutions.
The Dunkley Men's Health and Wellbeing Forum was an inspiring event and the first of many for the community. Thank you to all the men, boys, and organisations who participated and helped bring this vision to life.
Findings
This illustration captures the topics raised and discussed at the Forum.
Artist: Ray Eckermann, Small Mountains, Mount Eliza VIC.
Following the Forum, I reviewed the feedback and the consistent message on the need for more organisations similar to the Women's Spirit Project for men.
It is clear many of these organisations exist – locally and nationally – but too often they are working in isolation, doing excellent work but rarely looking up to collaborate with others. While there are large groups like Movember and The Man Cave working on a national scale on research and education programs, there are also many more local community groups on the ground in Dunkley making a valuable contribution.
Partnerships and connections between these groups will help build more support for local men who may be struggling. The Forum becomes a building block to forge working relationships, setting a clear picture of what the community needs, and what steps need to be taken.
What's Next?
The Dunkley Men's Network is the next step on a local level. Facilitated by Dave and Flynn, the Network will meet at my Electorate Office and is open to men, boys, and organisations in Dunkley. It will be a platform to discuss key issues, identify gaps, and implement solutions.
First meeting details:
- Monday, 16th February 2026
- 5:30pm
- My office – 37 Playne St, Frankston VIC 3199
If you are interested in participating in the Dunkley Men's Network, contact my office on (03) 9781 2333 or email [email protected].
I look forward to seeing how this group platforms local voices and what it contributes to the community.
