Wellness and Wellness Activities
OWN has always been interested in promoting the health and wellbeing of older women. Since 1993, we have been actively supporting the development of activities and wellness centres that offer older women a different model of health promotion.
OWN's wellness practices are based on principles of peer education and support, building on older women's skills and experience, and introducing a variety of strategies for promoting health and wellbeing.
With financial support from the NSW Health Department, Area Health Services and local Councils, OWN continues to support groups of older women in their own communities to establish wellness centres.
All OWN Wellness Centres
- Involve older women directly in defining their own needs, in designing and implementing programs that respond to these needs and in evaluating the effectiveness of these programs in relation to their health and wellbeing.
- Acknowledge the full range of factors that contribute to older women's health and wellbeing including societal attitudes, social justice and feeling of isolation.
- Promote, acknowledge and utilise older women's knowledge and skills and the vital role life long learning plays in increasing a person's capacity to maintain their own health and wellbeing and to contribute to community life.
- Encompass the rich diversity of older women's experience and cultural backgrounds.
- Include one or more forms of gentle exercise, health and lifestyle information in a discussion format, peer support and social interaction.
- Provide an inclusive and welcoming environment where older women from all cultures have fun and support one another.
At OWN's Wellness Centres, we are committed to flexible, 'drop in' attendance. Women can come for one activity or stay for the day. They can come as often as they wish, and do not need to book or pay in advance. Our Centres operate as non-profit community projects, and have minimal charges, in many cases a small voluntary donation is all that is asked. The participants at each Centre decide on what contributions they will make.
Older Women's Network Bankstown Wellness Centre operates Monday through Wednesday at several venues in the Bankstown region of South West Sydney. Activities include gentle exercise, Feldenkrais, Tai Chi, drumming, massage, aqua exercise, International Dance, massage, health information and discussions. Phone: 02 9708 2245 for information.
Northside Older Women's Wellness Centre organises activities at Chatswood, Crow's Nest, Lindfield, Turramurra on different days of the week. In association with Northern Sydney health and local Community Groups, activities are also available at Eastwood and Gladesville. Phone OWN at 02 9247 7046 for details.
Older Women's Network Sutherland Wellness Centre has a program of activities at two locations in Sutherland, and are looking to expand to other centres in the Shire. Phone 02 9523 9158 or 02 9525 6198 for information.
Sydney OWN has a program of activities at The Rocks, in Sydney. Phone 02 9247 7046 for information.
Other OWN Groups throughout NSW also organise a variety of events and activities for members. Phone OWN NSW 02 9247 7046 for contact details.
We also have a wealth of materials about OWN's model of wellness, including A Wellness Guide, which gives suggestions for starting a local wellness activities, help with setting up OWN Groups, videos, reports and suggestions for activities.
For more information, please contact the OWN NSW Coordinator.
tel: 02 9247 7046
email: info@ownnsw.org.au
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