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Goldfields Men’s Health Inc. (GMH) was incorporated on 01 November 2000, following the establishment of the Goldfields Men’s Interest Group in August 1999. This group was a shared initiative between the GEGPN the Goldfields Public Health Services, now the Western Australian Country Health Service, Goldfields South East Region, Population Health Services. The group grew from widespread concern about the health of men in the region. Various health indicators suggested Goldfields men had higher rates of poor health than in other regions of Western Australia. There was a strong feeling that men here were not accessing mainstream health services and, in general terms, found it difficult to seek help when physically, emotionally and spiritually low. GMH continues to be facilitated by the GEGPN.
GMH employed a Project Officer to deliver health programs targeting men and their families in the mining industry, utilising a preventative and early intervention approach. Previously project activities were planned, implemented and evaluated in accordance with the contract between the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) and GMH 1 July 04 - 31 January 2005, as part of the Strengthening Mining Families in the Eastern Goldfields strategy. This funding cycle continued on from the original funding from the Department which enabled the establishment and consolidation of the project as an integral part of the goldfields health community. GMH, with the support of GEGPN is currently seeking funding to continue implementing the project.
Final FACS report 2004-2005
Action Research continues to be an integral strategy used within the project to generate national longitudinal data on effective practice and prevention and early intervention strategies. Support for action research is provided to GMH by the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
The majority of project activities were implemented in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, however the reach of the project extends throughout the Goldfields region, as a result of successful linkages and working partnerships.
The GMH website aims to increase awareness of health issues specific to men, and directing them to available services, www.wellman.org.au was originally developed by the Network and continues to attract over 10,000 hits within Australia per month.
The project continues to gain recognition for its significant contribution to the Goldfields Community.
In 2001, GMH was successful in obtaining funding from the Department of Health, Western Australia to conduct research into the health and wellbeing of mining men and their families in the Goldfields region. Research momentum did not begin until 2003 and concluded with the launch of the research findings in 2005. The research was conducted and reported by Nicholas Keown, Research Officer, Goldfields Men’s Health Inc.
The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between inherent psychosocial stressors in mining and the health (social, physical, & psychological) of men working in the Goldfields mining industry of Western Australia.
The selected psychosocial stressors were hours of work (less or more than 12 hours), shift roster (days and a combination of day and night shifts), work schedule (even and uneven), and long distance commuting status (LDC) (mine-site and local residentially based workers). Individual and situational variables that potentially affected the health of workers were examined for the purpose of better understanding the interrelationship between psychosocial stressors inherent in mining and the health of its workers. Individual and situational variables were different job levels (professional workers (management, engineers, metallurgists etc.), skilled workers (technical), & unskilled workers (non-technical workers), age, shift roster and work schedule type, and long distance commuting status.
Findings from the study indicate a strong interrelationship between long hours of work, intensive shift rosters and work schedules, individual lifestyle and the incongruency with good health at an individual and family level. However, the relationship between work practices and the general, social and psychological health of male mine workers is complicated by a number of other work and non-work related factors, including behaviour (e.g. lifestyle practices), cognitive (e.g. attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, satisfaction, perceived needs) and socio-cultural (e.g. environmental & organisational climate) which were not addressed in the study.
Nonetheless there are significant problems associated with the relationship between psychosocial stressors and the status of male workers health. Twelve hour work days and shift work involving night work are more likely to be associated with higher levels of psychological distress, chronic fatigue, disruption of sleep, social and domestic life. Some workers are meeting the demands of these job stressors by induced emotional and behavioural reactions. Emotional reactions include fatigue and psychological distress. Behavioural reactions include decreased physical activity, increased smoking and caffeine and alcohol consumption.
Many study participants indicated that they were challenged in finding a balance between work and family. Limited time and energy were identified as contributing factors affecting the quality of their social and domestic life. For some, particularly shift workers, tiredness, lethargy and fatigue are barriers to a satisfying social and domestic life.
Lifestyle behaviour of male respondents differed according to the type of shift roster worked. Smoking and alcohol consumption was higher for shift workers than day workers. Similar results were found for employer status with more smokers and higher quantities of alcohol more likely to be consumed by primary contractor employees. However, the frequency and quantity of alcohol and cigarette smoking did not vary according to hours worked. Lifestyle habits of male respondents differed accordingly to LDC status with smoking, alcohol and caffeine consumption higher for local residentially based workers than mine-site based workers. Compared to skilled and unskilled workers, professional workers were more likely to report better health in terms of lifestyle, quality of sleep, social and domestic satisfaction, work-family balance and fatigue levels.
The central lesson to be learnt from the study is that Men’s Health is an important issue and men do take an interest in their own health. An ‘extension’ of themselves is needed to improve health as well as greater support from employers and the community. The future challenges are to direct men to better health outcomes and assist them to adopt and action favourable attitudes and behaviour. To assist in this process, the provision of ‘men oriented’ health promotion, education and health care services is needed.
Executive Summary
Following the research and to coincide with International Men’s Health Week 2006, Goldfields Men’s Health Inc. held Digging Deep for Better Health Sustainable Futures Research Forum designed to explore how mining employees, employers and the community can improve the health status of miners in the Goldfields region and better manage the demands of mining work practices (intensive shift rosters, work schedules, very long work hours and long distance commuting (DIDO/ FIFO).
Summary of Discussion Session
For further information on this program, please kindly contact Goldfields Esperance GP Network on 90216610.
To find out more details on all programs please refer to the ‘Applications Portal’ (http://apps.goldhealth.net.au/application/notice/notice.asp) or contact the GEGPN on (08) 90216610.
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