Advocacy for men and boys in Australia - what can we practically achieve during the next two years? Survey

This survey is collecting preferences, desires and opinions on the future advocacy for men and boys in Australia (at federal, state and local levels, as well as advocacy in general). We currently have a federal Labor government, which only requires support of the Greens in the Senate to pass legislation. There are centre-left governments in five states/territories, and centre-right governments in three. Large sections of the media are favourable to female empowerment and women's issues, while not being inclined to amplify the advocacy of male issues.

Within this landscape, what are the achievable and pragmatic and meaningful goals that we should be striving for? These might be new policies, actual implementation of prior plans, modest taxpayer funding, minor legislative amendments, cultural change, or other social/economic reforms. Regardless, they will require endorsement from a majority of the population and broad coalitions of supporters (men and women, multiple political parties, getting the media on-board, and taking lots of people along with us). As advocates, the burden is on us to persuade large numbers of people that specific changes are necessary—and how this will benefit our broader society.

This is not a wish list nor a time to dream about ideal outcomes nor musing within an echo chamber. It is a narrow and targeted selection of three goals that can actually be achieved. Think practical, centrist, incremental gains and SMART goals that are acceptable to a very wide range of people...

1.What is your highest priority goal for the advocacy of men and boys issues in Australia?(Required.)

2.Within the education of boys and young men, what do you see as the highest priority goal?

Closing the literacy gap between boys and girls at high school, measured by PISA reading assessments and NAPLAN writing scores for year-9 students

Lifting the number of boys who complete high school, or have another education pathway (such as technical or trades) to be the same percentage as girls

Achieving a balance of young men and young women at university campuses and other higher education institutions, including much higher numbers of male students in teaching, nursing, psychology, and social work

Other (please specify)

3.Within men's health, what do you see as the highest priority goal?

Allocating public spending on service delivery and medical research to be much closer to equality between the sexes (NHMRC spends 5.4 times more on women's health research than on men's health research)

Re-designing healthcare services that are tailored to the needs and preferences of males (including co-design), measured by the utilisation of services by males

Improving the diagnostics and treatments for prostate cancer—concerted efforts to lift research funding, facilitate clinical trails, and improve healthcare services for prostate cancer patients

Other (please specify)

4.Within longevity, what do you see as the highest priority goal?

Reducing the gap in all-cause mortality between men and women (including preventable and avoidable male deaths)—the preventable death rate in poor men is currently 4 times higher than rich women, perhaps aim for a halving of this rate for poor men

Targeted suicide prevention initiatives to reduce male suicide—such as a goal of less than 1,500 annual deaths or taking the male/female ratio down from 3 to 2

Specific focus on workplace deaths and injuries that impact men (collaborating with unions, employers, and governments)—for example, strive to reduce the number of male workplace deaths by 25% during the next five years

Close the gap in life expectancy between males and females, from 4-5 years to less than 3 years

Other (please specify)

5.Please share your general feedback on the disparities between males and females, the advocacy efforts for men and boys, the recently-released book The Relentless War on Masculinity by David Maywald, the messaging by Celebrating Masculinity on Facebook/LinkedIn/X/Substack, and other aspects of the advocacy for males as well as healthy relationships and balanced social outcomes in Australia...

The strategic orientation of this initiative is guided by the following...

Purpose: Advocating for better outcomes for men and boys across Australia.

Mission: Speak up for the interests, concerns, and wellbeing of boys and men. Be a catalyst for positive changes, including advocacy, community involvement, and targeted programs.

Vision: Greater opportunity for all people, resulting in a harmonious society.

Values: Empathy and integrity, courage and dignity, collaboration and partnership.