Do you have aches and pains?

Have you been putting off seeing your GP?

Do you have a family history of chronic disease?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, come along to our MASTERs men's health program.

The M.A.S.T.E.R (Men’s Assessment, Screening, Talking, Education and Referral) program, is a free men’s health screening program to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal men in Western NSW.

Men in Western NSW face significant health challenges including:

• Shorter life expectancy
• Greater health risk factors (including higher rates of smoking, overweight, harmful alcohol consumption and illicit drug use)
• Mortality rates for heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, respiratory disease and cancers
• Deaths related to injury or poisoning are higher in males than females
• Suicide rates among males are 4.3 times higher than for females

The MASTERs program aims to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal men in Western NSW by:

• Offering culturally appropriate health checks, advice, and resources
• Identifying risk factors for chronic disease
• Supporting people with chronic diseases to access treatment and care
• Reducing mortality through early detection and early treatment of chronic disease
• Supporting men to access follow-up treatment and care

Aboriginal men over 16 years of age can drop into one of our sessions for a free health check.

The screening consists of 7 health stations and a final check-out station to review the results and provide recommendations for follow-up appointments. At the check-out station you will be able to speak with a Doctor, Nurse or Aboriginal Health Practitioner about your results.

We will be offering men's health checks on the dates below. Contact Mervyn or Daniel for more information.

Are you an Aboriginal Artist or Graphic Designer who lives in Western NSW?

We are seeking Expressions of Interest from Aboriginal Artists and Graphic Designers to design artwork for our MASTERs program.

The major themes for the Artwork should include Aboriginal culture, family, community and healing. Sub-themes should be include connection, belonging and identity, diversity of the community, the different Aboriginal nations and the country on which we live.

More information can be found in the Expressions of Interest: MASTERs logo and artwork

The successful artist will receive $1,500 for the purchase of the artwork design and all rights associated with the artwork including copyright.

All interested Aboriginal Artists and Graphic Designers are encouraged to contact Mervyn Holmes-Wighton before submitting a concept design. You can reach Mervyn by email Mervyn.HolmesWighton@health.nsw.gov.au. or phone 0428 392 660.

Submissions can be emailed, posted or hand delivered to Mervyn.

Expressions of Interest are due by close of business Friday 21st February 2025