THE Rosewood Men’s Health & Wellbeing Expo was staged last Friday in a morning dedicated to encouraging mateship, sparking honest conversations and sharing practical tools to support men’s well-being.

The Expo was staged in the Rosewood Uniting Church hall and was hosted by the Rosewood and District Support Centre.

“It brought together health professionals, emergency services personnel, community organisations and residents to connect men with the services and supports that are often right on their doorstep,” said Community Project Worker, Tia Lancaster.

“With a focus on both individual and community health, the goal was to reduce barriers, raise awareness and foster a culture where men feel safe to ask questions, seek support and prioritise their well-being.”

The Expo concept was aimed at combating some of the barriers that exist for men in accessing services and improving their health.

“By getting a heap of services in the same room, it created awareness and allowed the men to start thinking about the services, tests and resources they could access to help improve their health.”

Information stalls included West Moreton Health’s Bowel Screening Program, Dementia Australia, the Prostate Cancer Support Group, the Aged and Disability Advocacy, C2M Physiotherapy and Open Minds, which is a Medicare Mental Health Service.

Adding value to the morning’s discussions and presentations were Member for Ipswich West Wendy Bourne, Cr Jim Madden and representatives from the SES, Rosewood Fire and Rescue, Rosewood and District Support Centre and JP services.

“A key focus of the Men’s Health Expo is attitude change,” Tia said.

“We wanted to encourage men to prioritise their physical, mental, and social well-being by creating a space where conversations can be had and resources shared – it’s time we moved away from the ‘she’ll be right’ mindset to one where regular health checks and tune-ups are simply part of the norm.”

Each presentation gave attendees a chance to ask questions, share experiences and engage directly with the experts.

“It was a very informative morning for the men of Rosewood,” said attendee Mark Strong.

“The burgers were yummy, presentations informative, and there were lots of useful stalls providing us with information about men’s health and letting us know about services and groups that are available for us in our community.”

If you weren’t able to attend, Tia says there are still ‘goodie bags’ from the Expo available at the Rosewood Community Centre.