The Deakin Lifespan Institute has partnered with the Movember Institute of Men’s Health in a $1 million, five-year investment in men’s mental health – as one of only a handful of universities worldwide to receive the research funding.
Lifespan’s Associate Professor Jacqui Macdonald was awarded the Movember Institute Professorial Fellow role to mentor early career researchers to explore how boys and men manage stress, adversity and relationships; what matters in their connections with peers, partners and families; and, how early fatherhood may operate as a critical window to support men and their mental and relational health.
The funding includes a Discovery Research Postdoctoral Fellowship position, to be filled later this year.
Movember is providing Discovery Fellowships at four key universities across the world, as a coordinated international investment in building the men’s health research sector.
Associate Professor Macdonald is the only Australian representative, with other Professorial Fellows to be based in the UK, Canada and the US.
Associate Professor Macdonald, who already sits in the Movember Global Men’s Health Advisory Committee, is globally recognised for her contribution to men’s health research. She is the Founder and Convenor of the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium, leads an Australian Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) project, ‘1 in 10 men: Informing prevention of and treatment for paternal mental health problems’ and is involved in several leading national and international longitudinal studies and consortiums.
Associate Professor Macdonald said the five-year roles are a unique opportunity to deep dive into an important area of men’s preventative health research.
‘We want to understand how boys and men navigate stress and adversity, how they cope, and how their relationships and social connections shape their emotional and relational health.
‘This could include exploring the role of alcohol, drugs, gambling or pornography; how connections with peers, partners, family and community – or a lack of connection – affect wellbeing; or how men experience early fatherhood. Across these areas, we want to identify opportunities to offer support earlier, before difficulties become a crisis.’
Ultimately, we want the research to inform better support for their mental health and relationships, with benefits for men themselves and the people around them.
What is the Movember Institute of Men’s Health?
Movember is the world’s largest men’s health community: 6 million+ people, $1 billion+ raised, 1,320+ projects funded since 2003. The Institute exists to translate high-impact research into real-world practice. The Movember Institute of Men’s Health brings together leading researchers, clinicians and partners from around the world to help tackle the biggest challenges in men’s health.
Discovery Research Program Director with the Movember Institute, Dr Rebecca Jenkinson said, ‘What set Jacqui apart was her breadth of experience. She is an internationally recognised researcher, a leader in men’s health, and an outstanding mentor to early career researchers.
‘We’re delighted to have her lead this work in Australia, supporting a new generation of researchers focused on boys’ and men’s emotional and relational health.’
More information and applications
Find out more about The Movember Institute for Men’s Health. For information on applications for the Discovery Research Postdoctoral Fellowship, visit the Movember website.
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