9.
Local community-building programs, building social
network and opportunities
A wide range of activities
have been undertaken that are based in local communities,
serving a range of identified needs. These
include services aimed at visiting all farms,
men’s health programs, events that provide opportunity
for local social interaction. There is a need
to’:
- Map what’s happening regionally
and locally, eg Drought Support Worker initiatives;
where the gaps are in the programs and how communities
cope with change
- raise the profile of programs that are working
well eg Anglicare and CWA connections
- Provide a “one stop shop” (perhaps
via a website) to identify existing programs,
particularly for each region - Centrelink might
play this role and be a major supporter eg Community
Connect,
and Lifeline’s Just Look aims to provide
a similar service
Lead action: Margaret
Alston Working GroupConvenor
Centre for
Rural Social Research, Charles Sturt University
www.csu.edu.au/research/crsr/
Country
Women’s Association – NSW
www.cwaofnsw.org.au
Anglicare:
Local community-building programs, building social
network & opportunities
Regional Dioceses: www.anglicare.asn.au
Diocese of Sydney: www.anglicare.org.au
Anglicare:
Improved access to counselling services
Regional Dioceses: www.anglicare.asn.au
Diocese of Sydney: www.anglicare.org.au
10. Professional network
building - Farming
Insights project
NSW Farmers is a key partner, with the Australian
Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety in the Farming
Insights project – a project aimed at preventing
suicide by addressing issues of social and professional
isolation in male farmers aged 25-45 years. Outcomes
to date include the agreement that NSW Farmers will
be host to a network of professional farmers,
who are committed to the industry for the future
and who wish to be linked into such a network. The
network will provide access to relevant farm business
management information and local social opportunity
through Regional Service Manager networks. Regional
groups that provide similar support such as Farm
Management 500, and Young Guns in Wool are not accessible
state-side, and these have indicated a desire to
be linked into a statewide network. Likewise, the
R&D Corporations, governments and tertiary institutions
have indicated support for such a network.
Lead
action: Australian Centre for
Agricultural
Health and Safety
Australian Centre for Agricultural Health
and Safety
www.acahs.med.usyd.edu.au
NSW Farmers
Association
www.nswfarmers.org.au
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