Heading into Movember this November, Townsville community advocate Nick Attam brings two honors with him: Movember’s Fine Growth Award for his efforts over the past year, presented at the 2026 Australian Mo Awards, and a place among Townsville’s Most Influential 2026 from the Townsville Bulletin.
What began with a mustache has become a decade of conversations. Hundreds of men, he says, have opened up to him about stress, emotional pressure and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts.
His method fits in one sentence. “Just sit there and have a cup of coffee with them and listen to them,” he said.
Attam, a software engineer who moved from Melbourne
Attam, a software engineer who moved from Melbourne and made Townsville his home, measures his achievements differently. Having raised more than $25,000 for men’s health through Movember, he told South Asian Herald that whatever he has accomplished “has only been possible because of the people around me.” For him, the conversations matter more than the recognition or fundraising.
Attam’s journey began in 2010, when a close friend overseas ignored persistent pain, relying on painkillers rather than seeking medical attention. By the time he visited a doctor, he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and required surgery.
The experience left Attam questioning why so many men dismiss symptoms, conceal their worries and hesitate to seek help. What began as casual exchanges grew into a personal mission, shaped by his belief that expectations of masculinity often prevent men from admitting vulnerability.
The veteran Attam met at India Fest
The veteran Attam met at India Fest is now a regular at Townsville’s Indian community events, invited to photograph birthdays, baby showers and weddings.
It was not always that way. When Attam met him, the man was dealing with serious mental health difficulties, and India Fest was his first public event in four years. His doctor had encouraged him to find a creative outlet, so he took up photography and came to photograph the celebrations. A short visit stretched into more than eight hours of conversation over coffee.
Attam kept in touch, inviting him for coffee roughly every fortnight. They talked about everyday life, joked, discussed Indian culture and food, and Attam eventually invited him home.
No special words were needed, Attam says, only coffee and someone willing to listen.
Attam believes one of the greatest barriers
Attam believes one of the greatest barriers to men’s well-being is the expectation that they must always appear strong. Many men, he observed, “don’t want to show their weakness to someone else when they’re talking about their health.”
The challenge can be particularly acute in regional communities, where social networks may be smaller, and among migrants navigating cultural expectations, work commitments and the absence of familiar support systems.
With “very few people to talk to, you become more mechanical,” he said. “Just go to work, finish your work, come back.”
Attam emphasizes that he is neither a counselor
Attam emphasizes that he is neither a counselor nor a medical professional. His role is to listen without judgment, offer friendship and encourage professional support when needed.
Now part of Movember’s ambassador program, he hopes to extend his reach, “sparking conversations, raising awareness, and supporting men’s health across our communities.”
He credits the volunteers, families and partners behind India Fest Townsville, along with his own family and friends, for sustaining his efforts.
Reflecting on the city that welcomed him, he
Reflecting on the city that welcomed him, he said simply, “This city made room for me.”
For all the recognition, Attam’s most powerful message is directed at anyone who has lost touch with a friend.
“When was the last time you spoke to your friend? When was the last time you sent a message?” he asked.
He urges people to stop assuming that silence means everything is fine.
We are so serious about our life
“We are so serious about our life. We don’t know what’s happening in their life.”
His advice is simple: “Pick up the phone.”
Attam hopes the message travels beyond Townsville. “If I tell you the story, then you go and tell 100 people,” he said.
For a movement built around growing mustaches every November, his journey demonstrates that the most meaningful impact may come long after the mustache is gone, when someone remembers to reach out, make time and listen. As Attam puts it, “They are waiting for you to say hello.”
