About

The Canterbury Men’s Centre in collaboration with the University of Canterbury’s Human Services and Social Work Department proudly presents a seminar aimed at professionals, academics and the community. The seminar will focus on Men’s Sheds, a growing movement in New Zealand which caters to mostly older men to counter the risks of depression, suicide and social isolation which come about as a result of withdrawing from the workforce. The concept of older men mentoring adolescent and young men in life.

The morning will be of special interest to social workers, occupational therapists, community support workers, and other professionals working with men in community or institutional settings. People with a general curiosity about Men’s Sheds are also encouraged to attend.

R.S.V.P. to Martin Cox: Canterbury Men’s Centre 03 940 9487 martin@canmen

9.00am – 9.45am: Dr Jeff Gage Dr Gage will be talking on one of his areas of interest; Fathering and Men as Mentors to the Next Generations. The term for this is "Social Fathering", when we refer to a non-biological fathering relationship. Jeff also worked through a process of being a father and mentor to his boys and has been mentoring another young man who is now 22.

9.45 – 10.15: Morning tea.

10.15am – 11.00am: Prof. Barry Golding Professor Golding is from Australia’s University of Ballarat and is the preeminent researcher into Men’s Sheds. He has studied the benefits men’s sheds offer their members in terms of adult education, mental health, and physical health. In his talk titled “Men’s Sheds in Community Settings: The Big Picture to 2012”, he will be discussing the benefits Men’s Sheds bring to their members and the community. The presentation will suit lay persons, professionals, and academics.

11.00am – 11.45am: PhD student, Karey Meisner Karey will present a talk on Men's Experiences of Help-seeking from Informal others in the Community (i.e. spouses, friends, colleagues, pastors etc.) for self-identified concerns about mental wellbeing. He is using grounded theory in his research. The intention is to develop a substantive theory about men's seeking help from informal others.