Alright blokes, listen up. Popular Hunter MP Dan Repacholi is on a crusade to get you talking about your health, physical and mental, after being named the special envoy for men’s health under the Albanese Government. His job? To talk to blokes about bloke sh*t.
Why might you ask? Well, that was the first question we asked Dan.
“Because men are unique. We don’t talk about our feelings. We don’t go and see doctors unless we are really sick and depending on the illness and what is going on, it could be too late.
“For about 80 per cent of men it takes them seven days to see a doctor if they’re sick and then 1 in 3 men will not go to the doctor until it’s been four weeks of seeing a symptom of an illness, that’s way too many people who aren’t getting the care or having the conversations they should be having.
“We have to get better at that. That is why we need somebody like me who will get up in front of blokes and have those honest and upfront discussions.
“I work under the Health Minister Mark Butler and his Assistant Ministers. I pretty much get to go around talking about men’s issues, go to events, listen to bloke’s stories and demonstrate that we can show our vulnerabilities and that we don’t all have to be big tough supermen. I also talk to the ladies and encourage them to have conversations with their partners too,” Dan explained.
“I’ve worked in male dominated fields, played male dominated sport, I am obviously lucky enough to be a male and a big one at that with a massive beard, so I don’t come across as a politician. I’m approachable and that’s what this role should be.
“In my opinion we need to see more politicians out there who are more approachable and aren’t wearing suits all the time, wear them when you have to but just be more approachable.”
Dan has wasted no time getting out and about. Men’s Health Week fell in June which saw Dan travel around giving toolbox talks at a number of workplaces including at Morgan Engineering at Singleton.
“We saw here at Morgans when I asked everyone during my talk how many of them had been and had a check up and a blood test and maybe three people out of 100 put their hand up. That’s a terrible statistic and one that we need to do better on.
“If just one of these blokes goes for a checkup, they’ll come to work and talk about it with the person they’re working next to and then that person might go to their GP as well for a check up.
“If we don’t start at that basic level of getting blokes to talk then there’s no point talking about specialists or anything else because if you can’t get them to go in the first place what’s the point of talking about something beyond that.
“There are so many things that we need to normalise talking about. So many blokes probably think it’s normal to wake up for a whizz twice, three times a night and that having an inconsistent stream is normal. Sh*tting through the eye of a needle all the time isn’t normal either. It could be warning signs of something like bowl cancer which kills so many young people because we just don’t talk about getting these things checked.
“People regularly say to me that they can’t get into their GP to get the tests they need. Well to them I say that you can, you just might not be able to get in during the hour that you want but you can, you just have to be flexible.”
Dan has always had a loud social media presence since being elected as the Member for Hunter in 2022 and it’s something he believes also makes him more approachable and down to earth.
There was plenty of action on his Facebook page for Men’s Health Week which saw posts including a video about calling the Health Minister for a goodnight check-in and a hilarious meme about erectile dysfunction, or as Dan put it ‘the old fella clocking off early’.
Dan has been sharing his visits with the Men’s Health Education Rural Van (MHERV) and drop ins to local men’s sheds where he said, “fixing things is great but fixing blokes with a chat and a cuppa is even better”.
Addressing mental health is also a big part of Dan’s role and something he is incredibly passionate about.
“Mental health is huge, and we all have a role to play. You wouldn’t walk past your mate on the footy field if they looked hurt, so why aren’t we doing that when we see a mate who is going home early when they usually stay out late or if we see a mate who is usually the life of the party and they’re dull and down or not their usual self. If you have a mate who isn’t having a beer with you anymore there’s a reason why, so you need to check in and ask if they are okay.
“It’s the stigma. They don’t want their mates to think they’re weak and they don’t want to show weakness in front of friends or talk about their vulnerabilities. We all have certain things that are vulnerabilities to us. These chats should be normal for blokes and right now they’re just not.
“I think the way that changes is with time. Ten years ago the talk around mental health was nothing compared to now so we have gotten a little bit better, and we will continue to get a little bit better. Younger people are now growing up talking about it which is great.
“We need to get the generations above them talking about not only mental health but everything else too. We should be talking about going and getting a PSA blood test and how you don’t have to get a finger in the arse anymore to get your prostate checked. Most men don’t even know that.
“I’m so lucky that I get to do a job that I love and I get to go and see all the cool stuff that happens in the Hunter and now in this role I get to meet even more people and go to more places around the Hunter to talk about men’s health, something I am so passionate about. I am so happy to have this role.”
