March 2020 Volume 24 // Issue 2
Club of Woodend
FIRST PUBLISHED 1997
DISTRIBUTING 4,000 FREE COPIES ACROSS WOODEND’S POSTAL DISTRICT
Community Conversation – Summer Living in Woodend
O
n Saturday 1 February, in the Community Hall beside the library, a unique conversation took place amongst Woodend residents; to give our own community the opportunity to consider how they might respond to and recover from a major disaster. The conveners are a group of Woodend residents who work internationally, nationally, in the state, and locally in emergencies and recovery, and who came up with the idea to run this session, on the basis that a connected community is much more resilient, and recovers better from disasters. Many local groups and organisations such as the Library, Council, Woodend Neighbourhood House, the churches, the Red Cross, CFA and SES were consulted, and supported the event. The idea was to build greater connectedness and to get us all thinking about the central question: “How prepared for disaster/emergency do I feel?” This is a question that has had particular resonance this year, given the severe natural disasters that have hit parts of Australia this summer. Attendees were given the opportunity to rate themselves on a scale of 1, for not yet at all prepared to 5, very prepared. During the session, about 100 people of ages ranging from five weeks to 85 years wandered through, speaking to each other and with facilitators, experts and community leaders, and sharing their experiences, questions, and worst fears. Of the town, people said that they love the community infrastructure, and the town’s ‘…good sense of community’; many noted in particular Woodend’s organisations and groups that offer residents the potential for rich connections, friendships, information and support. The session considered many ways the community could navigate a disaster successfully to recover, by considering how people could help each other immediately following a disaster, and in the long term. The conversation resulted in a ‘picture book’ slideshow of the ideas and information captured from attendees. You may view the picture book, on the Woodend Neighbourhood House website here <woodendnh.org.au/summer-living-in-woodend>. If you would like to have input into whether we hold a follow up conversation, let us know through the Woodend Neighbourhood House at reception@woodendnh.org.au.
Supporting people living with mental illness in Macedon Ranges
The Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention Action Group (MRSPAG) is excited to announce a new local project that explores ways to make practical support available to people living with poor mental health in the Macedon Ranges. This work is one of several projects being funded by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network through the Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention trial site. The trial site brings together local organisations, services and community through the Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention Collaborative, to develop activities that aim to prevent suicides at a local level. Annie Rowland, Chairperson of MRSPAG, said having access to some practical support with everyday activities can be very helpful for people experiencing mental illness. “Things like getting to an appointment, preparing meals, going for a walk or just having someone to have a coffee and a chat with can make a difference,” Annie said. “Macedon Ranges is a really generous community; we see evidence of this every day. We know we can deliver this kind of support, using the best resources we have – our people.” Local health and community organisations, Council, emergency services, and members of the community have all been busy sharing ideas on how to make this support a reality. MRSPAG are also consulting with community members who experience mental illness or who care for someone with mental illness, to make sure there is a focus on providing the support that local people really need. “We’ve recruited over 20 people with lived experience from the region who are willing to share their insights and advice on what supports would best suit them,” Annie said. “It’s important that what we provide is tailored to local needs, and that means listening to the local community. People with lived experience need to be at the centre of anything we build to support them. Nothing for them, without them.” Next steps will see MRSPAG and local partners working to secure funding to trial the support model and to explore our local service system to progress this important work. If you are interested in supporting this project, please contact info@mrspag.com.au If you or someone you know is in need of immediate mental health support, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14 (6pm–midnight). SUBMITTED BY DEEPA PATEL