Flinders University joins male health research alliance

Flinders University has become a research partner of the Freemasons Centre for Male Health & Wellbeing (FCMHW), broadening the scope and footprint of the centre’s research and translation activities.

Flinders joins the Masonic Charities Trust and existing FCMHW research partners the University of Adelaide, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and the Menzies School of Health Research.

Bringing together globally recognised leaders in male health, the centre’s focus is on the common chronic conditions affecting males, including prostate cancer, obesity, diabetes, depression, sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease, as well as health service use and delivery, and social and emotional wellbeing.

An initial investment of $4.8m over three years in boys’ and men’s health has been committed by the research partners, with a goal to achieve at least a 4:1 return from Commonwealth and other funding pools for high-impact programs. The Masonic Charities Trust is donating a minimum of $2.4m over three years to the FCMHW, with the potential to extend its investment a further two years.

Flinders University Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research Professor Robert Saint said he was delighted the institution was able to contribute its research expertise to tackling boys’ and men’s health.

“It is well known that males have particular health challenges, such as prostate cancer, and have unmet needs in relation to a range of chronic physical and mental health conditions,” Professor Saint said.

“This burden is even more pronounced for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males, who have the poorest health and shortest lifespan of any population group in Australia. In addition to strengthening ongoing work in this area, Flinders University also delivers research programs aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of young men and veterans.”

David Booker, the Grand Master of the Freemasons of South Australia and the Northern Territory, said it was important that his organisation’s charity arm supported the ongoing development and reach of a centre that began in 2007 as the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health.

“We want the research, programs and young scientists we support to be representative of our entire jurisdiction, with freemasons playing important roles in their communities from the bottom of South Australia to the top of the Northern Territory,” Booker said. “We are therefore very pleased to have Flinders University join the centre, given its activities spread throughout the central corridor of Australia. Our goal is that by advancing male health and wellbeing, we also improve the health and wellbeing of families and communities.”

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