Unitec students receive first men’s health awards

Unitec students receive first ever NZ Men’s Health Trust Scholarships

An alarming lack of men entering the health professions has seen The New Zealand Men’s Health Trust and Unitec Institute of Technology team up to help increase numbers.

Five male Unitec students studying medical imaging and nursing were each awarded a $5000 Wairakei Development Scholarship from the New Zealand Men’s Health Trust at a special inaugural awards ceremony at Unitec's Waitakere campus on Tuesday March 23.

The New Zealand Men's Health Trust (NZMHT), a not for profit organisation set up to facilitate improvements in men's health, is seeking ways to attract more men into the healthcare professions, including supporting them with their training. As a result, the NZMHT has developed a targeted scholarship scheme with Unitec Institute of Technology to support men studying health sciences.

Wendy Horne, Executive Dean of Unitec’s Faculty of Social and Health Sciences says that an important way to improve men's experiences with health services is by having more men train as health professionals. “The health care workforce has traditionally been made up of high numbers of women and we hope that with the support from the NZMHT more men will be encouraged to enter health sciences,” she says.

“I commend the New Zealand Men’s Health Trust for donating these scholarships which will help to encourage more men into study in these fields,” she says.

Dr Graeme Washer from the NZMHT says strategies to get more men into nursing and other health sciences will have a significant and positive impact on men’s health services.

“New Zealand men have a lower life expectancy rate than women and the NZMHT is working to raise the life expectancy of men by increasing awareness and knowledge about their health, by using available education and communication channels,” he says.

The NZMHT supports a variety of organizations working with a primary focus on male issues through supporting research, tertiary institutions and other medical organisations. “We aim to identify and reduce the barriers to men seeking early medical advice,” Dr Washer says.

The inaugural Wairakei Development Scholarships were awarded to five male students in the fields of Medical Imaging and Nursing.

The five recipients are:
• Julian Dods, (41) from Henderson who is retraining as a nurse. He is currently in his first year of a Bachelor of Nursing degree at Unitec.
• Carl Gilpin, (50) from Avondale is the eldest recipient. He is also currently in his first year of a Bachelor of Nursing degree at Unitec.
• James McMillan, (22) from Mt Albert, is in his second year of a Bachelor of Health Science (Medical Imaging) at Unitec.
• Phanuel Victor, (19) from Mt Wellington, is in his second year of his Bachelor of Health Science (Medical Imaging) at Unitec.
• Justin Wang, (31) from Albany, is in his first year of his Bachelor of Health Science (Medical Imaging) at Unitec.
ENDS

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