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The Incolink Bus gives workers a one-way ticket to good health

This bus is the first time such an expansive mobile health program has been developed specifically for the construction industry.

This bus is the first time such an expansive mobile health program has been developed specifically for the construction industry. Photo: Incolink

Visiting the doctor for a check-up is something many of us put off.

Why see a GP if you feel fine? And who’s got time to sit in a waiting room for half an hour? For Australia’s 1.1 million construction workers, many who work six days a week, it’s understandable that the last thing they want to do on their day off is visit a GP.

On the flip side, research shows that prevention is often better than cure.

Having a regular check-up can be the difference between a health issue being caught early and treated, or becoming a serious illness.

This is especially true for diseases like prostate cancer which is the most common cancer affecting men in Australia.

According to the Australian Prostate Centre (APC), 55 men every day are diagnosed with the illness—over 20,000 each year—around 3,500 of whom will die from the disease.

The outcomes are worse for men in regional locations.

On average, those who develop prostate cancer are 30 per cent more likely to die from it than men in the city. One reason for this is that people in rural areas tend to live further from medical services which can mean they delay visits to the doctor.

The good news is that if prostate cancer is caught early, the survival rate after five years is over 95 per cent.

Recognising the importance of early detection, industry redundancy fund Incolink is excited to announce a new initiative in the fight against prostate cancer and other health issues—the Incolink Bus.

Headlining a new line-up of services that broaden Incolink’s industry-leading Health Checks program, the Incolink Bus is fitted with two fully equipped consulting rooms and a waiting room. GPs and medical staff will travel to construction sites across Victoria and Tasmania delivering prostate, skin cancer, cholesterol, diabetes and general physical health checks to workers.

This is the first time such an expansive mobile health program has been developed specifically for the construction industry.

Incolink Chief Executive Dan O’Brien has been a strong advocate of the company’s signature Health Checks program since its inception in 2015. He says the program has made a difference by bringing health services to worksites and raising worker awareness of the importance of preventative health checks.

“By partnering with the Australian Prostate Centre to bring GPs to worksites, Incolink is removing one of the biggest barriers to good health for construction workers—getting them to visit a doctor. The Incolink Bus will enable us to reach more workers than ever before,” he said.

APC CEO Mark Harrison says the new partnership with Incolink is a great fit for both organisations. “Our vision is that no man should die from prostate cancer,” he said. “Working with Incolink will help us reach men who are unaware they may be at risk. The Incolink Bus will improve health across the construction industry.”

The program offers wide ranging benefits to the industry. For workers, it brings the doctor to them and helps them stay on top of their health. For employers, it promotes a safer workplace and a more available workforce.

Since 2015, Incolink has delivered health checks to over 12,000 workers at Victorian and Tasmanian construction sites. The Incolink Bus will enable the organisation to deliver up to 4,000 health checks each year.

Visit Incolink to learn more.

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