Labor Is Backing Medicare
Whether its men’s health or women’s health, in person or by telehealth, Labor is ensuring everyone can access health care more easily and with just your Medicare Card.
If re-elected not only will we be delivering 50 more Urgent Care Clinics, including in the Hawkesbury and at Rouse Hill, but we’ll provide a 24-hour Urgent Care health line – 1800MEDICARE.
1800MEDICARE will be a free, nationwide 24/7 health advice line and afterhours GP telehealth service, backed by Medicare.
If you need urgent GP care that can’t wait for your regular GP to be available, the triage nurses will connect you to a free telehealth session with a 1800MEDICARE GP via phone or video, available all weekend and weeknights between 6pm and 8am.
This announcement builds on our existing commitments to strengthen Medicare, with additional Medicare Mental Health Centres, cheaper medicines and more bulk billing for all Australians.
For men’s mental health, we’ve announced a $20 million funding boost, including backing Men’s Sheds for their key role in helping men and boys find mateship and social support.
It will provide another two years of Men’s Shed Initiative’s National Shed Development Program, providing grants of up to $10,000 to individual Men’s Sheds. It will also support the Australian Men’s Sheds Association to deliver new health promotion and prevention programs.
I’ve been committed to tackling the issues that impact men’s health, especially men’s mental health, in my time in Parliament.
When I’ve met with the men’s health experts from Movember, they’ve told me that the statistics show as many as two in every three men are skipping health support due to gender stereotypes – and around half believe avoiding health check-ups is normal.
Australian men are three times more likely to take their own life than women and are significantly less likely to seek mental health support.
So I am very pleased that a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will also provide an additional $11 million to Movember to support men’s health and break the stigma around seeking support.
Whether it’s at men’s sheds, walking groups or as part of community volunteering, these are important investments at the grassroots level.
