On this page you'll find:
THE MEN'S PLACE
The planning of a community based resource and contact centre for men of all ages, backgrounds and cultures is currently being developed for the southern regional area of Adelaide SA.
The Men's Place is an initiative of Men Accessing Community and Health Services, MACHS, under the auspice of Healthy Cities Noarlunga Inc-SA.
MACHS was formed in early 1999 as a response to community consultations. The group operates under the auspice of Healthy Cities Noarlunga Inc, SA. Membership consists of community workers from various agencies, and interested members from the wider community. The primary focus of this group is to work towards the improvement of men and boys general health and well being.
Significant changes in community life styles, work/employment, traditional male roles, health care and family developments have all impacted on men and boys physical, emotional, social and spiritual well being. New community programs, men's support groups, courses, seminars and books that focus on personal development, relationships, parenting, and other issues are attempting to address the needs of men and boys in our community.
However, from a local community perspective there is a considerable lack of male peer support, centralised meeting places, male specific resource material, and other activities which can improve the quality of life for men and boys in the southern region of Adelaide.
We need The Men's Place.
The planning of a community based resource and contact centre for men of all ages, backgrounds and cultures to be known as 'The Men's Place' is currently being developed for the southern regional area of Adelaide SA. MACHS is seeking to establish The Men's Place, as a resource and contact centre sometime during 2001.
This project is an
initiative of the
Men Accessing Community & Health Services, MACHS: http:au.geocities.com/machsmen
under the auspice of Healthy Cities, Noarlunga Inc SA: http://www. softcon.com.au/nhc
and supported by Noarlunga Health Services, http://www.noarlungahealthservices.com
City of Onkaparinga Council, http://www.onkaparingacity.com
the Adelaide Central Mission http://www.acm.asn.au/
and Anglicare SA http://www.anglicare.sa.org.au
along with interested members from the wider community.
Broadly Speaking the Aims of The Men's Place include: ·
- A place to complement and refer men to existing services or programs and other related activities in the southern area, via face to face contact. ·
- Provide telephone support and access to resource information including computers, books, brochures, and other literature associated with men's health and well being. ·
- To link men to the community, in a non threatening way. ·
- Create a central place where men can sit back relax, and talk in a safe, non-judgmental environment and determine what they want and need in the community. ·
- Act as place to collect appropriate information from community members that contributes to, and supports men and boys health and well being programs or activities. ·
- Create opportunities for men of all ages, cultures and backgrounds to contribute their ideas, life skills, or experiences towards providing a support or mentoring role for other men and boys in the community. ·
- Develop volunteer support for generating social capital in building better communities, and establishing advocacy roles for bridging existing gaps in services to men in the southern region.
- Operate Along
a Community Development Model Approach Working in collaboration and
partnership with the wider community. This includes
- Government, non government, business, community service organisations and others.
- Creating broader community links that develop a noncompetitive approach to existing services for women in the community.
- Actively establishing contact with other organisations in the community that support and promote men and boys health and well being initiatives.
This includes working in collaboration and partnership with the wider community, including government, non government and community service agencies,
Creating broader community links which develop a non-ompetitive approach with existing services for women and families in the community,
Establishing contact with other organisations in the community which supports and promotes men & boys' health & well being,
How you can respond to this important community project:
¨Premises - southern based. We are looking for a 'stand alone', or co-location of premises with another community based group. It is important that the potential premises provide disability access, a shop-front style approach, near to public parking facilities, and within easy reach of public transport. Access to the facility would be required on a seven day day/evening basis.
Community/business/private sponsorship support. This can be provided through funding, donations or similar financial arrangement made by business, government /non-government, community service agencies, and other organisations that support the principle of men and boys health and well being in the community. Non financial or in-kind support is also required.
This may be provided through infrastructure assistance, computer skills activity, commercial or education development and practical material resources for this not for profit community group.
Wanted Men Wanted. Future members of The Men's Place who are willing to become active participants in this community: there are no special skills required, only a willingness to assist all men and boys in their health and well being - and to continue on your own journey of development and self discovery.
Active volunteers with special skills. MACHS requires active volunteers who have current or previous specialised skills in adult education, computer, business, counselling, community work, or similar experiences. We don't expect a long term/many hours commitment, however individuals must have a willingness to contribute their skills or experience towards the establishment and development of this community activity.
Men's Journeys
publication
Men's Journeys
is currently published quarterly and focuses on a broad range of social,
developmental, political, health and spiritual issues that impact on men
and boys health and well being. From June 2001 we are envisaging extending
distribution of 'Men's Journeys' to include broader community participation.
·
The Men's Place
Continued development of this community resource and contact centre focusing
on the broader issues of men and boys health and well being is currently
being planned. Dependent on resources, location, community and organisational
support it is envisaged that this centre will be functioning by December
2001.
Men's Programs
Currently we have a range of interesting programs for men of all ages,
cultures and backgrounds who are welcome to attend on a Monday evening
at Elizabeth House, 112 Elizabeth Road, Christie Downs. Common Ground
Male Singers, Common Ground Theatre Group or the Men's Journeys Open Support
and Discussion Group (see the Report and
Events page on this web site for more details). ·
Evaluation of the
Common Ground Conference recommendations
The MACHS committee is currently evaluating the Workshop Recommendations
as these were identified in April. Implementing these recommendations
will be a primary objective for MACHS during 2001/2002. ·
Continued Participation
in Community Development projects
In collaboration with other community sector agencies/government/non-government/church
based/and others MACHS will continue to work in partnership with these
organisations and individuals to achieve it's aims and objectives.
MACHS committee meetings are currently being held monthly at the Adelaide Central Mission offices, 111 Beach Road, Christies Beach.
Community organisation representatives and men and women from the wider community are welcome to attend any of these meetings.
For more information about
- MACHS current and future projects,
- Conference activities and outcomes,
- Men's Journeys publication,
- The Men's Place initiative,
- Organising a guest speaker on these issues
Jules Van Kekem -
Noarlunga Health Services
(08) 8325 - 8100
Vicky Rowland - Adelaide
Central Mission
(08) 8329 - 1700
Andrew McCrae - Anglicare
Family South
(08) 8329-0800
Philip Crouch - Community
volunteer worker
(08) 8381 - 9408
Email: [email protected]
Written correspondence
to:
MACHS, PO Box 769
Noarlunga Centre SA 5168
