Men-toring at Parkland Villas Woodlands
Village manager Wayne Adams and the male residents in Parkland Villas Woodlands in Western Australia have taken huge steps in promoting men’s mental health awareness in the village and the broader community. They are bridging the gap and encouraging conversations among men in two big initiatives – GenConnect, a government supported mentoring program and Bro 2 Bro, a social group started in the village for the male residents.
The GenConnect program
Supported by the West Australian Government, the GenConnect pilot project is a collaboration between IDEA Academy in Perth and the charity Men’s Talk as part of a larger program. The program is aimed to improve mental health for men of all ages and introduces teenage students to some simple tools for mental wellbeing before being connected with senior mentors to discuss what they’d learned and to gain further knowledge.
The residents’ participation
Over six weeks, a small group of the residents of Parkland Villas Woodlands travelled to IDEA Academy to chat with young men about a range of subjects and share their insights. Questionnaires were at hand to help prompt conversation but before they realised, the talks between both generations started flowing more naturally around careers, relationships and hardships they were facing making them bond in a genuine way. The seniors offered life lessons, skills and broader perspectives, while the young men brought enthusiasm, fresh ideas and technological prowess to the exchange in an uplifting intergenerational collaboration that fostered mutual respect.
‘The first couple of sessions I was a bit apprehensive,’ admitted Andre, one of Parkland Villas Woodlands’ senior mentors. ‘I didn’t know where things were going or how they’d turn out. But by the third week, I realised that what I had to do was put myself in the shoes of these young men and say to myself, “When I was 16, going from school into the wide world, what would I have wanted to know?” I’ve gathered a lot of knowledge along the way and without telling these young people what they should do. There are little skills and shortcuts that can help and are very simple, but you’re not taught them at school. It’s been a great pleasure for me to be able to pass on some of these.’
The seniors offered life lessons, skills and broader perspectives, while the young men brought enthusiasm, fresh ideas and technological prowess to the exchange in an uplifting intergenerational collaboration that fostered mutual respect.
The special connections
Although Wayne, the village manager, was hopeful about the six residents who volunteered to take part in this program, he was also a little sceptical. ‘As each Thursday morning rolled around, I wondered who was going to drop out but they all religiously turned up. They were just so overwhelmed with the engagement of the lads they were meeting and the relationships they were building. They felt so proud and privileged to be part of it.’
‘A lot of the young lads involved in the school had dads who were FIFO workers and away a lot or they didn’t have grandparents nearby. They were looking for role models from that older generation and our men felt so valued. One of the guys came back the last week with tears in his eyes and he said, “This is the best thing I’ve done in my life, being able to offer something back and engage with these boys.” And the lads shared some of their problems that they couldn’t talk about outside the forum,’ Wayne shares.
Closing the gap
GenConnect worked to instil values of respect, empathy and cooperation among all participants as well as building feelings of belonging and unity. It clearly demonstrated how bridging the gap between older and younger men not only benefits individuals but also the community at large.
‘Strong communities aren’t built by pitting one generation against the other,’ Wayne reflects. ‘It’s about collaboration. Together we can be a powerful force to address community issues and create positive change.’
GenConnect worked to instil values of respect, empathy and cooperation among all participants as well as building feelings of belonging and unity.
Bro 2 Bro: Men’s social group
While village manager Wayne Adams was instrumental in bringing this opportunity to Parkland Villas Woodlands residents, he was already working to address a gap in the social scene at the village. ‘Out of 286 residents here, only 38 are men,’ said Wayne. ‘The residents were basically in their little silos, so I started a men’s group in the village to get the guys together once a week. We all think we have enough tools in our kit bag to get us through life but that’s not true. You have to be able to reach out and get support when you need it.’
Dubbed Bro 2 Bro, the initial lure of the group was simple: a beer, sausage and mash. But this casual weekly catch up had a deeper purpose — to provide an atmosphere where the men felt comfortable enough to open up and engage in conversations they might not normally have.
‘Over time, different topics of discussion were introduced and key speakers brought in with expertise in areas like prostate health. We came up with a program for the guys covering aspects of mental health, wellbeing, breathwork and movement. We had 22 attend, which was a great uptake,’ Wayne explains.
Going from strength to strength, Wayne shares, ‘Now, we’ve got a BBQ planned soon to talk about the winter agenda. We have new speakers lined up and some indoor sporting activities. We’ve also got an inter-village meet up with some other guys in Keyton villages — they’ve heard what we’re doing here, and they want to set up their own Bro 2 Bro.’
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