Men’s Health Select Committee Inquiry

March 2009

The Alliance made a submission to the Select Committee Inquiry into Men’s Health calling for the specific needs of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men to be addressed and the issues faced by trans people in relation to gender-specific health policy to be taken into account, and outlining a range of specific recommendations.

Download our submission.

The committee released a report on its findings in May 2009. It includes a brief section on gay men and states that the committee trusts that the specific concerns of gay men will be reflected in the National Men's Health Policy. However, the report fails to address any issues relating to gender and sex diversity. The Alliance has also made a submission to the consultation on the National Men's Health Policy.

In our submission we provided evidence that indicates that there are significant disparities in the health and wellbeing of Australian men that relate to their sexual orientation and gender identities. Gay men, bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (msm), and trans people tend to have disproportionately negative health outcomes. Research suggests that this is related to social determinants, such as experience of discrimination, which is also related to reduced access to appropriate health care.

To improve the availability and effectiveness of education, supports and services for men's health and thereby improve the health outcomes of all Australian men, the Alliance advocates that men's health policy and services need to

• ensure that all men's health education, supports and services are explicitly inclusive of the needs of gay/msm and trans people, including initiatives targeting specific population groups and issues, and provide additional funding to support this where required

• take into account that some men may have physicalities that are at least partially female and some women may have physicalities and face health issues that are commonly regarded as male-specific

• proactively engage with intersex and trans people in the development of policy, education and services to ensure that their needs and issues are appropriately addressed

• make Gardasil freely available to young gay men through a targeted vaccination program

• conduct more research, including among gay men, to explore the prevalence and treatment options for anal cancer and prostate cancer

• include sexual and gender identity in concepts of the social determinants of health and social inclusion

• take into account the specific needs and health issues of gay men/msm and trans people in all education, supports and services for men's health

• ensure education and awareness campaigns regarding men's health reach gay men/msm and trans people, eg by collaborating with LGBT organisations and by using targeted communication channels

• promote resilience and self-care attitudes among gay men/msm and trans people in conjunction with strategies to combat discrimination

• increase levels of Commonwealth, state and other funding addressing health issues services and research relating to sexual and gender diversity

• maintain funding levels and sustain the partnership model between state and Commonwealth funding for HIV related research, programs and services

• specifically include gay men/msm and trans people as priority population groups in appropriate strategies, policies and plans

• provide specific and sustainable funding to LGBT community organisations to deliver health programs and services with gay men/msm and trans people

• improve the adequacy of services and general programs for men's health in rural and remote areas to support gay men/msm and trans people, eg by assisting them to work in partnership with dedicated LGBT organisations

• organise health service and program planning and delivery around ‘communities of interest’ as well a neighbourhoods, settings and specific health issues

• require that all major population based health research commissioned, funded or conducted by governments or related bodies routinely collect and report data on sexual and gender identity

• provide ongoing funding to specific gay/msm and trans health research, both quantitative and qualitative

• monitor and evaluate program implementation (at the federal, state and local levels) for how accessible it is to and inclusive of gay men/msm and trans people, and link this to funding.