TOMNET: maximising and valuing the active participation of older men in our community
Edited book (chapter)
Chapter Title | TOMNET: maximising and valuing the active participation of older men in our community |
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Book Chapter Category | Edited book (chapter) |
ERA Publisher ID | 2778 |
Book Title | Community capacity building: lessons from adult learning in Australia |
Authors | McGowan, Carole (Author), Enkelmann, Lloyd (Author) and Burton, Lorelle Jane (Author) |
Editors | Postle, Glen David, Burton, Lorelle J. and Danaher, Patrick Alan |
Page Range | 105-122 |
Chapter Number | 7 |
Number of Pages | 18 |
Year | 2014 |
Publisher | NIACE |
Place of Publication | Leicester, United Kingdom |
ISBN | 9781862017221 |
9781862017252 | |
Web Address (URL) | http://www.niace.org.uk |
Abstract | The Older Men's Network (TOMNET) is a not-for-profit community organisation established in Toowoomba in 2001 to support older men in regional, rural and remote locations in southern and south-west Queensland. TOMNET facilitates the capacity of older men to participate in and contribute to their local communities, helping members to lead rich and fulfilled lives. The network works to enhance the social connections of older men and in turn to address risk factors for suicide. A recent initiative was the successful mentoring training program with the Toowoomba Flexi School, an inter-generational concept that brought together a group of older men in the community with marginalised youth through a mentoring program focused on building oracy and literacy skills and learning outcomes for these young people. This chapter will document how TOMNET provides older men with opportunities to make active educational and social contributions to their local communities, including access to various volunteer and exchange programs that promote professional development, individual empowerment and enhanced well-being. It will be argued that TOMNET's model for supporting older men helps to build community capacity, enabling members to share their knowledge and skills and experience an enhanced sense of worth and belonging. TOMNET thereby supports older men's need for sociability and issues relevant to feelings of marginalisation; the network promotes positive health practices to help older men contribute to community and regain control of their lives. |
Keywords | older men; retired men; community interaction; suicide prevention; self-worth; Toowoomba Flexi School |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 520199. Applied and developmental psychology not elsewhere classified |
449999. Other human society not elsewhere classified | |
441001. Applied sociology, program evaluation and social impact assessment | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | Toowoomba Older Mens Network, Australia |
School of Psychology and Counselling | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q2w7v/tomnet-maximising-and-valuing-the-active-participation-of-older-men-in-our-community
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