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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 1025 ..
Inquiry into Men's Health Services
MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a statement regarding an inquiry by the Standing Committee on Health and Community Care.
Leave granted.
MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, this committee, after some discussion and a number of meetings, has determined that it will inquire into men's health services. For the information of the Assembly, I would like to read the terms of reference into Hansard. They are that the Standing Committee on Health and Community Care:
Inquire into and report on men's health services in the ACT, with particular reference to:
(1) the need for specific health services for men in the Territory, including the need for targeting particular groups of men according to age, cultural and linguistic background, socioeconomic status, sexuality, and any other relevant factors;
(2) the availability of men's health services/facilities in the Territory;
(3) the potential contributing factors to men's health outcomes, including male socialisation, risk taking behaviours and violence;
(4) examples of good practice men's health service provision in the Territory and nationally;
(5) the relationship between men's health and wellbeing, and community health and wellbeing; and
(6) any other related matter.
Men's health is an issue that has emerged in recent years, and the committee is aware that there is no strong examination of that issue nationally or in the other States. We believe that it is time issues relating to men's health were examined more carefully. The Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that men use medical services less than women but are more prone to die at a younger age from a wide range of disorders.
Ms Carnell: No stamina, Mr Wood.
MR WOOD: Chief Minister, there are three men on this committee, you might note. It is also the case that, in schools, boys are more likely than girls to present behavioural problems and men are more violent. These are issues, we believe, related to men's health.
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