New Fortnightly Mens Group

Partners In Wellbeing:  A new mens group for business owner support.

When? – Online 19th July, 2nd Aug, 18th Aug, 30th Aug at 7:30pm

Why the group?

Recent statistics from Beyond Blue (late 2021) indicate a clear increase in mental health issues in Australian men, since the pandemic began. Time and time again, ongoing general statistics have highlighted that far too many men do not seek support for their mental health issues, and currently represent less than 40% of all Medicare mental health plan referrals, nationally.  Many male Small Business owners (SBOs) are more challenged and isolated than ever before. The PIW Small Business Support Team have also noted an increase in male clients seeking support to our service, since late 2021. Having a specific PIW peer support group for male SBOs will potentially open up new opportunities for some of our clients to complement their individual support, meet other men with similar challenges, normalise their experiences, create new wellbeing and help seeking habits/opportunities, and take some much-needed time out from their busy schedules.

What are the main objectives of the group?

Although we will have an agenda to try and meet the below objectives of the project, the group will be participant led in order to ensure effective engagement.

The main objectives of the group are to create a safe, confidential space where participants can gain:

• A reduced sense of social and professional isolation for male Small Business Owners.
• A sense of ‘normality’ and increased confidence for male Small Business Owners when discussing their own mental health, wellbeing, and time management issues; as well as being able to support others with similar challenges.
• A greater sense of shared empathy and understanding of the challenges of operating a Small Business, from the perspective of being male.
• An increased ‘tool kit’ of learnt wellbeing skills, strategies, and theories to increase self-care and resilience. This includes increased ideas and methods of self-caring for oneself and others in the busy daily environment of a SB.
• For Small Business Owners to have some fun and time out, with other blokes – we want to try and create a relaxed and fun environment to keep participants attending.

Who can Register?

All current, and past, EACH PIW clients & PIW Peak Body contacts who operate, or have operated, a small business.

We have capacity online for at least 15 participants.

We have created this group because there are simply so few spaces for men to gather and discuss mental health and wellbeing challenges together, but we acknowledge that many SB owners, of all genders and diversity, are struggling, and we want to emphasise that this is an open group – we are happy to discuss accommodating all applicants who may be interested in attending.

For further information or to self-refer to the group please email group facilitator’s  nate.proctor@each.com.au or ross.exton@each.com.au

Online via Zoom starting 19 July and running every second Tuesday from 7:30pm – 19/7 > 2/8 > 16/8 > 30/8 – see Flyer here