Men's Group

Currently the SFHS Men's Health worker (myself) and the Men's Engagement Network (M.E.N) are planning a regular time and place for men to get together. We already have the time but not the place ( this is under negotiation)

The time for the 1st Men's get together will be January 13th (ahhh Friday the 13th. An auspicious date) from 6.00pm til 8.00pm.

Stay tuned for more details and hope to see you there.

Men’s Get Together

(For all men on the Southern Fleurieu)

This FREE group will include:

> A place to discuss life over a cup of tea or coffee

> A place to hear other Men talk about their experience with

§ Life

§ Depression

§ Caring for a loved one

§ Sexual health

§ Or anything you can think of or…nothing at all

> A free BBQ

>

The Men’s get together is a pressure free, violence free, homophobia free, drug free, men’s space

2nd Men's steering group meeting

We had the 2nd productive meeting forthe men's health steering group. See below for the rough notes and current ideas of this group.

Mens Steering Group

Meeting Notes 15/12/2001

PRESENT: APOLOGIES:

Lud Allen David Hammond

Bill Harris

Greg Moore

Nigel Willikenson

Notes:

informal discussion regarding the following:

• Brief round about thoughts between the last meeting and this one.

• New Ideas: All in the group were asked if they had new ideas for discussion. This conversation centered around the need to ensure that the Men’s health position continues as a long term position.

1. contact and enlist support of local councils

2. health services leadership groups

3. state/federal politicians

4. local groups such as sporting clubs/sapol/farmers federation/employment groups

5. whalers housing/southern junction etc

Hold another Men’s Forum in February to deliver information on the current access of the men’s health position. Showing the need that has been identiofied ( the successes this has created) and the Gap that is existing in services.

• Men’s Blog: Lud asked if anyone present or people that are known would like to be a contributer to the Men’s Blog.

• What has happened so far.

Lud gave an update of the Men’s Health position:

1. connections with Goolwa Dad’s group
2. continuuing of service mapping
3. approval via SFHS to start a ‘Men’s Group’ with funds to provide food or other resources. ( looks like this will start Mid January)
4. continuing to receive many phone calls from individuals and organizations and have linked more men to services.
5. Will be on 5EFM to discuss Men’s needs.

• Greg gave an update on the Men’s Shed.

• We discussed a name for this group and Bills suggestion was unanamoulsy agreed. It looks like we will call ourselves Men’s Engagement Network (MEN)

This was another very positive meeting with lots of ideas. I would like to thank the men that came along for showing an interest, being very proactive and for making the night enjoyable as well as productive.

Next Meeting is:

Thursday Jan 12^{th –} 6.00pm

Underneath the Gospel Centre in the SFHS Men’s Health office

Goolwa Dad's Group

I went along on Wednesday the 30th November to the Goolwa Dads Group facilitated by David Hammond.

This group was fantastic. The dads that came were all great guys that needed some space from the rigours of fatherhood. Not only was this group fun (with food and drink provided) but it was also educational with discussion about such things as:

• dealing with the stressors of parenting
• how to de stress
• managing discipline as a form of developing relationships between fathers and children

As with many groups of men there were some laughs, a bit of kidding each other and some real sincere support offered to each other.

Ohhh.... and as all parents need. A creche is on site. Awesome.

If you want to find out more contact David Hammond - Community Development Officer on 8555 2509

Men's Steering Group Meets for 1st Time

Mens Steering Group

Meeting Notes 1/12/2001

PRESENT: APOLOGIES:

Lud Allen David Hammond

Bill Harris

Greg Moore

Nigel Willikenson

Notes:

informal discussion regarding the following:

• Introductions

All introduced themselves sharing some personal history and what we weanted from Men’s Health on the Southern Fleurieu.

• Men’s Worker Role

Lud described the current job description for the Men’s health worker.

1. Develop a Men’s network with aim of raising the profile of men’s health.
2. follow up the initial men’s health forum held in June 2011-12-02
3. consult with men re gaps in services and their well being
4. identify existing Men’s groups and develop a directory resource for the region.

• Review of Men’s forum (June 2011)

Discussion about the need to further the ideas presented in the forum.

• What has happened so far.

Lud gave an update of the Men’s Health position so far:

1. connections with Goolwa Dad’s group
2. beginnings of service mapping
3. approval via SFHS to start a ‘Men’s Group’ with funds to provide food or other resources.
4. already receiving many phone calls from individuals and organizations and have linked in 5 men to services.
5. attending 2 white ribbon day events
6. working on media via local radio/newspaper etc.

• Where to from here?
1. Look at ways to develop the Men’s Network including making it an incorporated body so that the network can operate independently
2. Men’s Health Worker to visit Probus (and other) clubs
3. have an ‘opening’ type event with activity such as a debate
4. utilise Men’s Shed space for somethings but also develop other spaces to cater for those not interested in Men’s Shed
5. Men’s Worker to act as a resource for other organizations. To support them to meet their needs.

This was a very positive meeting with lots of ideas. I would like to thank the men that came along for showing an interest, being very proactive and for making the night enjoyable as well as productive.

Next Meeting is:

Thursday Dec 15^th

Underneath the Gospel Centre in the SFHS Men’s Health office