Statement of Principle from the 
1st National Indigenous Male Health Convention

Presented at the 3rd National Men’s Health Conference
Alice Springs 6th - 8th October 1999

The first National Indigenous Male Health Convention held at Ross River was attended by over a hundred and fifty Indigenous males from the Northern Territory and other parts of Australia.

This Convention represents a new era for Indigenous men. It provided an opportunity for men to talk freely about men’s issues and to evaluate the effects of the past, the disadvantage of men’s health in the present and the measures necessary to promote and ensure a healthier future.

Dominant among men’s issues is the impact on health, which relates to the breakdown in social structures, traditional obligations and men’s role in the family and relationships within the community.

The clear message from the Convention was that Indigenous men should take greater responsibility themselves to improve the status of men’s health and play their rightful role as leaders, fathers, uncles, husbands and grandfathers.

The Convention recognises the need for redirecting resources to enable culturally appropriate and accessible services for men. The Convention supported greater recruitment and involvement of male Aboriginal Health Workers and male nurses and the development of male places for health care support.

However, the strong feeling of the Convention was that Indigenous men should provide leadership and direction to achieve these outcomes.

The National Indigenous Male Reference Committee has been formed with the mandate to develop holistic strategies that examines the multiple factors that determines men’s health such as employment, education, high incarceration rates and the disempowerment of men.

Mick Adams
Chairperson
National Indigenous Male Reference Committee

6th October 1999

email Mick at adamsm@miwatj.com.au