Real Men’s Health is showcasing excellence in men’s health programs through our Men’s Health Program Series.
In each article, we will ask 5 questions of a featured program organiser or designer to gain insight into what they do and their thoughts on men’s health today.
In this article, we speak with Ben Rogers, from The Movember Institute of Men’s Health.
Q1: Could you please describe your role within the program?
I’m the Director of Health Professional Education at Movember, where I lead our work focused on building healthcare systems that genuinely respond to men’s needs. I work within the Movember Institute of Men’s Health, which drives our global work across research, policy and programs, while also strengthening the capacity of the men’s health sector. The Institute focuses on translating evidence into action, supporting a variety of key areas including young men’s health, mental health, cancer, health literacy and responsive care for men.
My role is focused on equipping health professionals and the systems they work in with the knowledge, tools and confidence to engage men in ways that reach them, resonate with their experiences and retain them in the health system, so their needs are recognised and met.
Q2: Could you please describe what your program does?
The program I’m leading is focused on improving how health systems respond to men’s needs and includes a focus on health professional training. As part of this role, I also work closely with our advocacy and research teams to drive change across men’s health.
A major part of this work over the last 12 months is scaling our evidence-based program, Men in Mind, which helps mental health professionals engage men more effectively in services. Research shows that Men in Mind improves practitioners’ confidence and skills in responding to men, particularly those experiencing depression and suicidal distress.
With recent Australian Government funding, we’re now translating this training for primary care professionals, including GPs, pharmacists and nurses and rolling it out to practitioners across the country. This expansion is designed to support frontline practitioners to better recognise, respond to, and retain men in care, especially those at risk of slipping through the cracks of the health system.
Q3: What are the biggest changes you have observed within the men’s health space over the past 5-years?
Over the past five years, we’ve seen growing awareness of the importance of men’s health. At the same time, our healthcare systems continue to present barriers that impact men’s engagement and experience when they walk through the door. Longer wait times, shorter consults and cost all make it harder for men to access care. Layered on top of that is a workforce that often isn’t trained to understand the best ways to reach and respond to men.
There’s a clear need for more responsive approaches. While momentum is building, there’s still a long way to go in making systems truly work for men.
I’m excited about what the next five years could bring. As digital health tools and AI continue to evolve, they’ll play an increasingly important role in how men access and experience care. This shift brings both opportunity and challenges, and it’s a space where Movember will continue to play an active role — ensuring innovation is guided by evidence and genuinely meets the needs of men.
Q4: If hypothetically, the Government offered you an unrestricted $1M grant tomorrow, what one project would you spend it all on?
I’d use it to scale our video series, What is Therapy? — a campaign that helps men understand what therapy is and why it matters. The more we get this out there, the more chance we have of shifting internalised beliefs that stop men from getting help. But we know that even when men do show up, 45% drop out early, partly because they don’t know what to expect and don’t follow up with another therapist when care doesn’t land the way they need. This series tackles that head-on breaking down the process, challenging stereotypes and showing how therapy can be a powerful tool for self-care and growth.
With $1M, we’d take it national and embed it in workplaces, community settings and health services and build out resources to support men at every stage of their help-seeking journey. As the host of the series, Ben Russell says: “Therapy is bloody excellent” and I think it’s time more men knew that.
Q5: And finally, could you discuss one moment early in your career which shaped your approach to your work?
As an Occupational Therapist, my thinking has always been about deeply understanding the lived experience of people and stepping into their shoes when navigating the challenges in front of them. That mindset has shaped how I approach everything in my work, from clinical practice to workforce education and service redesign, especially when designing training that’s practical and accessible.
During my OT degree, a close friend died by suicide. That moment fundamentally shifted my perspective and became the reason I moved into mental health. Not long after, I started working as a community rehab worker, supporting people transitioning from acute care back into everyday life. It taught me early on how important it is to make systems more accessible and responsive and that’s stuck with me ever since.
Thank you for sharing with Real Men’s Health
