Centrelink's editor, Hank Jongen, forgets that many gay seniors receive this News for Seniors magazine from Centrelink and that maybe, just maybe, they are aware of Jeff Kennett's and beyondblue's ongoing homophobia, and maybe, just maybe, many of these gay seniors have been driven to depression and suicide ideation because of what the federal government and Centrelink perpetrated by not allowing a grandfather clause when the 85 pieces of legislation were amended and came into effect on 1 July 2009, causing untold harm to hundreds, possibly thousands of gay age pensioners.
beyndblue was not exactly going to assist them with their problems, so who do you turn to?
Men's sheds for gay men? Not if Jeff Kennett and beyondblue can help it!!
beyondblue launches a Men's Shed ONLINE
From an online search engine and Centrelink's News for Seniors, issue 84 2011
The Shed Online is a new website that aims to replicate in the online space, all the positive things men get from being in their own sheds or in a community Men's Shed.
beyondblue Chairman, The Hon. Jeff Kennett AC, says the inspiration for The Shed Online comes from the 400 Men's Sheds which are thriving Australia-wide.
"In those sheds, in towns across the country, men can get together, work on projects shoulder to shoulder, learn new skills and if they feel comfortable, they can talk to one another about light-hearted or more serious issues," Mr Kennett says.
"We want to give men who don't have a local Men's Shed the opportunity to be part of a community, to socialise, make new friends and maybe, work on a project together. The Shed Online will tick all those boxes, but instead of it happening in a real shed, it will happen in a virtual shed, over the internet."
Patron of the Australian Men's Shed Association (AMSA) and Australia's "First Bloke, Tim Mathieson, encourages all men to get involved.
"Even if you're a bit shy at first, you'll be able to chat to mates, get information about a whole range of topics including health, learn about DIY projects and hopefully, eventually, you'll feel like you belong to this community or club... and it doesn't matter where you live," he says.
"Joining up and joining in is easy - and it's free. You go to www.theshedonline.org.au and register to become a member and then you can participate in the discussion forums."
Mr Kennett: "We know that being isolated and feeling lonely may contribute to depression and that untreated depression is a risk factor for suicide, especially in men. We also know that men are reluctant to seek help for both physical and mental health problems.
"In The Shed Online, there'll be easy-to-access health information that men otherwise may not come across. We've been working with the Australian Men's Shed Association for several years to deliver information about depression to men - and it's been a very successful partnership."
The Shed Online is a joint project of beyondblue and the Australian Men's Shed Association, and is funded by The Movember Foundation.
Visit www.theshedonline.org.au - the more blokes who join, the bigger the shed!
No comments:
Post a Comment