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Imagine if all older people in our community were valued and involved
Imagine a community where loneliness, isolation or depression are no longer common issues for older people
If you....
• have a passion to help make this a reality and assist your neighbour/clients
connect back to the community
• can create links for older people to be included and have valued social roles
• have a strong vision for inclusive communities
then this workshop is for you.
UnitingCare Australia has received a grant from the Federal Government to reduce social isolation in older Australians. Part of the grant has been used to fund a national capacity building initiative across the UnitingCare Network and Uniting Church congregations. Staff, community and congregational members will receive training and resources to assist them to engage in local community action to promote social inclusion with older people.
Building Belonging: Celebrating Inclusive Communities is a series of workshops delivered across Australia in Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) during 2009 to provide additional skills in how to practically begin engaging local communities to prevent isolation and promote community inclusion for older people
The 2 day workshops were presented by Ted Smeaton of Inspiring Communities. Ted has written, developed and implemented ABCD projects throughout Australia and Asia and is a member of Jody Kretzmann and John McKnight's Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute, North Western University, USA.
ABCD defines assets as the wisdom, strengths, passions and gifts that each person has to contribute to community life.
WA representative for the project, Sharon James, says that "The concept behind them (the workshops) is about having a look at the assets we have in our communities. We can break it down smaller than suburbs and look in our own streets. There can be assets in terms of businesses or buildings or individuals."
It might be that people have time on their hands to have a chat. It might be retired people who have a skill and can be called up. Or there may be some space where people can talk to the council about creating a park...
We've all got so much to give, and it's not necessarily about money.
Just people getting together and having a conversation can move mountains...
For more information please contact Sarah Lockwood on 03 9251 5249 or via e-mail: 
Registration forms are available here: pdf or word.
View the flyer here
Celebrating Inclusive Communities group on facebook
We have set up this facebook group as discussed in order to keep better connected with workshop participants as well as other people in Australia interested in the Social inclusion of Older people and the ABCD framework. It would be wonderful if you were able to join up and continue contributing to the conversation.
Thanks.
The Building Belonging Project Team
Find the facebook Group here.
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