Australian men die, on average, 4.5 years earlier than Australian women. Men are more likely to die from cancer, heart disease, and suicide, less likely to see a doctor, and more likely to engage in health-risk behaviours. Yet men's health receives relatively less dedicated funding and attention than the disease burden warrants. Understanding the men's health funding landscape helps organisations building healthier pathways for Australian men.
Statistics
Why men have worse health
The men's health gap reflects a complex mix:
- Biological factors (some conditions more prevalent in men)
- Social norms (masculinity norms discourage help-seeking — "toughen up", "she'll be right")
- Health system design (often better designed for women's needs)
- Occupational hazards (men dominate dangerous industries)
- Sociological factors (men less likely to maintain social networks, at higher risk of isolation)
Movember Foundation
Movember is Australia's (and the world's) major men's health charity — raising over $30 million annually in Australia alone:
- Prostate cancer research and support (Movember/PCFA partnership)
- Testicular cancer research and awareness
- Mental health for men (Men in Mind, Ahead of the Game)
- Physical activity for men
- Suicide prevention
- Workplace men's health
Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue addresses depression and anxiety — with specific programmes for men:
- Heads Up (workplace mental health, particularly for men)
- NewAccess (low-intensity mental health coaching)
- Community men's mental health
Lifeline
Lifeline's crisis support is disproportionately important for men — men are far more likely to die by suicide, but Lifeline reaches many more women (men seek crisis support less). Specific men-centred outreach.
Australian Men's Shed Association (AMSA)
Men's Sheds are a significant men's health intervention — social connection, purpose, mental health:
- AMSA supports over 1,000 Men's Sheds nationally
- Gaming trusts, Lotteries, and Rotary fund local Sheds
- Men's Shed model has been exported globally
Mental health
Suicide prevention
Cancer
Cardiovascular health
Men's Sheds
Workplace health
Specific populations
Men's Sheds are one of Australia's great social innovations — community spaces where men (and increasingly some women) come together to work on projects, learn skills, and connect:
Funding Men's Sheds
Masculinity-aware design
Men's health programmes fail when they ignore how men actually engage. Show that your programme is designed around men's preferences — peer connection, activity-based rather than talking-based, practical outcomes, humour and lightness as entry points.
Reaching men before crisis
Men often present when already in crisis — suicide attempts, heart attacks, advanced cancer. Applications addressing earlier intervention (regular GP checks, mental health check-ins, proactive outreach) are valuable.
Trusted messengers
Men are most influenced by other men with lived experience, sports figures, and peers in their own communities. Show that your programme uses trusted messengers rather than top-down health messaging.
Workplace as access point
Workplaces are a primary access point for men who won't voluntarily seek health services. Show how your programme uses the workplace as an engagement pathway.
Rural and Indigenous men
Rural and Indigenous men have the worst health outcomes — applications specifically addressing these communities with culturally safe approaches are compelling.
Tahua's grants management platform supports men's health funders and community organisations — with programme participant tracking, health outcome measurement, community reach data, and the reporting tools that help men's health funders demonstrate their investment in closing Australia's persistent men's health gap.