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Conference Sponsored by
City of Onkaparinga
Adelaide Central Mission,
Noarlunga Health Services
Healthy Cities Noarlunga Inc.
MACHS
The Conference Organising Team
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Common
Ground Conference |
To read about the workshops that were held and some of their outcomes double click on the following links:
Parenting and Fatherhood Part 1 and Part 2
1. Background
2. Conference overview
3. Outcomes
4. Key recommendations
5. Attached 100 Word projectView a report of the plenary session about the diversity of issues facing men
1.0 Background
The following report is based on a preliminary overview of the recent Common Ground - men actively developing community conference held at the Seaford Ecumenical Centre, Grand Boulevard Seaford, SA on 19/20th of April 2001 and key recommendations of the outcomes. The conference committee is evaluating key recommendations and a complete report will be made available.1.1 A community survey in January 2000 with men from the local community highlighted key issues that men felt impacted on their lives and these became key themes of conference. On April 19th/20th 2001 MACHS convened a two-day highly interactive community development focused conference entitled Common Ground - Men Actively Developing Community. Of the 139 participants 40% represented key agencies, and the other 60% men and women from the wider community. The cost arrangements were such that agencies sponsored community members with their conference fees. The conference was highly successful.
2.0 Conference overview
Presenting workshops at this conference ranged from Work, Stress & Good Health, Parenting & Fatherhood, and Men & Domestic Violence to Masculinity & Spirituality, Prostate Awareness and other identified male specific topics ensured that participants were exposed to a broad range of health & well being issues within the one event.The plenary sessions, common ground men's choir, BBQ social with Mark Thompson, the 100 word men's stories project (currently displayed in the City of Onkaparinga council foyer), sufficient food/continued refreshments, information displays and the effective responsiveness of core committee members ensured that the conference flowed smoothly.
3.0 Outcomes
One of the major key outcomes of this conference was a signed statement of collaboration between five key community sector agencies that deliver services in the southern regional area of metropolitan Adelaide and MACHS.Participant signatories:
· Adelaide Central Mission - Sue Park, Acting CEO,
· Anglicare - Simon Schrapel, Executive Manager F&CD,
· City of Onkaparinga - Beth Davidson-Park, GM, City Services
· Healthy Cities Noarlunga Inc - Vicky Rowland Vice chair,
· Noarlunga Health Services - Richard Hicks, Director CAHS3.1 The statement of collaboration reads as follows:
We, the undersigned agree to adopt a collaborative approach in the provision of programs and projects that address the health and welfare needs of men and encourage them to participate fully in community life.
Our shared commitment will enable men and their families within the Onkaparinga region to access health, welfare and community development programs based on the best available knowledge, skills and experiences.
This commitment will be to work together towards making the Onkaparinga region a leader in the provision of targeted services for men. We will support the development of partnerships that use the strengths, skills, and expertise of those individuals and organizations within the region who provide and support targeted programs for men. We will support the activities of MACHS (Men Accessing Community and Health Services) in it s efforts to build a strong, community based coalition for the development of men's services.
We will strive towards a coordinated collaborative response to the development of men's services that encourages respect for the diversity, personal responsibility and accountability and participation.
3.2 The conference convening committee under the stewardship of Peter Tregilgas had substantially planned to ensure all participants experienced a strong sense of interactivity through core workshop participation and all other activities connected to this event. Informal conference feedback from presenters and participants firmly supports the valuable contribution to men's health and wellbeing in the community that this event has achieved.
3.3 An initial project arising from the conference was preliminary discussion evolving around a formal audit of services available to men within the City of Onkaparinga to be undertaken by MACHS as a feasibility study. This information will be distributed to key organizations including Noarlunga Health Services and the Southern Planning Alliance committee.
3.4 MACHS has also initiated the necessary planning processes towards becoming an incorporated body. In addition, a major objective during 2001/2002 is to establish a centralised base to conduct its activities - to be known as The Men's Place.
3.5 Continued involvement in the collaboration and development in partnership with community sector agencies, businesses, recreational groups and others towards highlighting men's health and well being issues in the southern regional metropolitan area of Adelaide is a high activity priority.
4.1 Need for action by MACHS to represent a holistic and world health organization principle approach towards representing men's health and community interests.
4.2 Need for a venue such as 'The Men's Place' where gaps in men's health and community services may be accessed, and also provides a meeting place and information exchange. This service would also complement existing and future men's services and projects of community benefit.
4.3 Specific action is urgently required in relation to counselling, consultations groups, support activities within a community development environment that addresses key health and community issues including Men and Domestic Violence, Fathering and Parenthood, Grief and Loss, Gender/Community health, and male specific support groups and related projects.
4.4 An identifiable need for more informal social activities to enable men in the community to participate in the life of community thereby reducing isolation, depression, and social exclusion.
4.5 Continued broad agency and community support to enable MACHS to continue developing the following:
- Common Ground Male Singers,
- Men's Journeys publication,
- The Men's Place
- Collaborative community projects/forums/workshops/information bases,
- Infrastructure support for centralised activities,
- Male mentoring and similar programs,
- Formal advocacy developments.
5.0 100 Work Community Project - City of Onkaparinga Council
This project reflects the voices of men who live and work (or are connected) to the area. This region is demographically the southern regional metropolitan area of Adelaide South Australia. See attached information below.
In conclusion this report will be followed by a more detailed account of the conference proceedings and subsequent July 2001.
- MACHS Committee Report
ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS YOUR MATES NEED YOU!
The 100 Words is a project to discover what it means to be a man living and working in the Onkaparinga region.
The Council is seeking expressions of interest from local people to submit photographs or sketches on the theme of what it means to be a man living and working in Onkaparinga.
These works will be part of the 100 Words Project to tour the southern region and raise awareness of mens' issues over the next three months.
The current 100 Words exhibition will be displayed in the City of Onkaparinga foyer area from Monday 14 May until Friday 22 June 2001 during business hours.
Any individual or community organisation is welcome to view this free exhibition and submit their artworks to Don Chapman, arts and cultural development officer, City of Onkaparinga, 8384 0658.
PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE
ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS TO HIGHLIGHT MEN'S ISSUES
The Council is seeking expressions of interest from local artists and photographers to submit photographs or sketches on the theme of what it means to be a man living and working in Onkaparinga.
The 100 Words is a project to discover what it means to be a man living and working in the Onkaparinga region.
The works selected will be part of the 100 Words Project to tour the southern region and raise awareness of mens' issues over the next three months.
The current 100 Words exhibition will be displayed in the City of Onkaparinga foyer area from Monday 14 May until Friday 22 June 2001 during business hours.
Any individual or community organisation is welcome to view this free exhibition and submit their artworks to
Don Chapman, arts and cultural development officer,
City of Onkaparinga, Ramsay Place, Noarlunga Centre, telephone 8384 0658.100 words is a project that has invited men to reflect upon their lives and to share their thoughts and feelings in brief, written statements of up to one hundred words.
The results are moving and telling personal stories and moments from the thirteen mens' lives that echo the realities and dreams of all men.
The stories reflect a rich cultural diversity. Their universal themes deal with tenderness, cross-generation, sons nurturing and honouring fathers, balancing the masculine and the feminine, men and work, intimacy, relationships, changing roles and expectations, self-realisation, life journeys, overcoming racism, the joy of giving, gay pride, sense of place, the value of the club and the changing world.
A simple, yet arresting design, by James Hubbard, has ensured that the exhibition looks good and is easy to read.
100 WORDS MENS STORY PROJECT
INTRODUCTION
The City of Onkaparinga in collaboration with The Adelaide Central Mission, Healthy Cities Noarlunga, Noarlunga Health Services, Men Accessing Community Health Services (MACHS) and the City of Onkaparinga, wishes to invite visual artists and photographers to make a unique visual contribution to the 100 words project.
ABOUT THE 100 WORDS PROJECT
100 words is a project that has discovered from local men what it means to be a man living and working in the Onkaparinga region.
Men from different backgrounds have reflected on their lives and shared their thoughts and feelings in brief, written statements of up to one hundred words.
The results are moving and telling personal stories and moments from the mens' lives that echo the realities and dreams of all men.
The stories reflect a rich cultural diversity. Their universal themes deal with tenderness, cross-generation, sons nurturing and honouring fathers, balancing the masculine and the feminine, men and work, intimacy, relationships, changing roles and expectations, self-realisation, life journeys, overcoming racism, the joy of giving, gay pride, sense of place, the value of the club and the changing world.
A simple, yet arresting design, by James Hubbard, has ensured that the exhibition looks good and is easy to read.
The project was coordinated by Dave Kelly, Manager of Community Services, at the City of Onkaparinga. It was first exhibited at the "Common Ground" Conference, about how and why men are actively participating in community, at the Seaford Ecumenical Centre on 19 and 20 April 2001.
The exhibition will be displayed in the City of Onkaparinga foyer area from Monday 14 May until Friday 22 June 2001 during business hours.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO CONTRIBUTE?
If the subject of the 100 words Project (what it means to be a man living and working in the Onkaparinga region) means something to you, we want you to view our exhibition in the foyer of the Council over the next month and make a visual contribution.
Your contribution must be approximately 29cms (11.5")x 21cms (8.25") or A4 size, to allow for appropriate mounting with the words. The work needs to be either a photograph or sketch that best captures the theme for you. You may enter as many works as you wish.
Thirteen of the best works will be chosen by a sub-Committee of the MACHS Group to accompany a touring exhibition as part of a greater 100 words Project.
The exhibition will tour community organisations, schools, libraries and businesses around the Onkaparinga area for the next six months.
If you're interested in being part of this stimulating exhibition please contact Don Chapman, arts and cultural development officer, City of Onkaparinga, 8384 0658. All works must reach Don Chapman at the Council by 5pm Friday 22 June 2001.
Don ChapmanCdoarts/collect/100wordseoe.doc MACHS, PO Box 769, Noarlunga Centre, SA 5168,
or copy and paste into your e-mail and send to
Telephone enquires can made to
Jules Van Kekem (08) 8325-8100
Philip Crouch (08) 8381-9408,
Alternately by Fax: text heading MACHS, Attention David Kelly (08) 8382 8744