Our vision
To promote optimal health and wellbeing outcomes for all men living in Aotearoa and to be recognised nationally as leaders in men's health and wellbeing.
Our mission
Through the establishment of an interprofessional network of researchers and experts lay representatives dedicated to providing leadership in advancing the men's health perspective, we will advance and enhance all aspects relating to the health and wellbeing of the diverse population of men living in Aotearoa.
Strategies
Research
By undertaking research into men's health issues in Aotearoa New Zealand, including biomedical, epidemiological, public health and social science, we will inform best practice in men's health. Furthermore, where appropriate, research will be undertaken by inter-disciplinary teams in areas such as IT, communication, psychology and education to determine the most effective ways of engaging men of differing ages, ethnicities and communities in issues of their health.
Equity
The Centre will emphasise the need to embrace the integration of an intersectional standpoint which considers men's health within the context of their cultural background, their age and sexual orientation, as well as whether they are men who live with disabilities, are homeless or migrant, to improve gender equality policies and policies specially targeted at men to promote within-gender and across-gender equality.
Knowledge exchange
Our research findings, as well as those from other international centres for men's health and global organisations working in this space, will be widely shared with government, health organisations and relevant non-government agencies to ensure awareness around best practice in relation to men's health and wellbeing is raised, thereby informing policy and practice.
Practice
We will advocate that a strength-based and gender-specific approach be considered when developing policy, planning the delivery of health services and health promotion initiatives. Furthermore, we will encourage those who plan health professional training programmes to explicitly address the needs of men within their specific health professional training programme, informed by the relevant New Zealand and international research.
Advocacy
We will represent and promote issues relating to men's health, through engagement with relevant agencies and groups including government, universities, district health boards, primary health organisations, Maori health providers, relevant non-government agencies and workplaces, especially workplaces where the workforce is predominantly male (for example, the construction industry, heavy goods transport, farming, engineering and first responders), thereby ensuring they understand the significant impact of the workplace on the health of men.
Activities
In addition to the activities outlined above, the Centre will host an annual New Zealand Men's Health Colloquium and maintain an active social media strategy.