Friendship and Connection
‘Connectedness is instrumental and embedded in human nature’.
‘Friendship and Connection’, a supportive group program for women, is focused on strategies that enhance and nurture positive friendships and human connections which in turn leads to a boost in emotional health and wellbeing.
As a circle of women, we explore our needs and potential for connectedness in our life through engaging in conversations and the medium of Expressive Art.
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‘Hello and Welcome to the program ‘Friendship and Connection’
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​Mapping connections. To explore our social connections to gain more awareness of people and the roles they play in our lives.
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Exploring self – the masks we wear. The voices within and the masks we wear and hide behind.
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Exploring barriers to making connections. Exploring aspects of our social interactions and communication with others.
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Effective communication and healthy relationships. Speaking one’s truth and enhance self-empowerment
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Nurturing Existing Relationships. To enhance current friendships and relationships – gain insight what works well and what needs strengthening.
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Building new connections. To explore/identify how other/new contacts can become friendship opportunities. Which skills will support you in this process.
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Onwards – Where to from here – Collective wisdom. Courage – formulating goals for friendship and connection.
Topics of conversation:
Ageing Well Program
"Aging well involves having an open mind, maintaining a positive outlook, staying active and informed, fostering social connections, prioritising health, and adapting to changes effectively."
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‘Ageing Well in your Community’ is a conversation series to support people 65+: We can’t escape getting older and therefore how can we, you and I and as a community better prepare ourselves to courageously age well in our own home and community. Let’s have a conversation!​​​
Topics of conversation:
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Home, belonging, and community explores our sense of place. Our external place – where we live, our home and community – as well as our ‘inner’ feelings of belonging.
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The realities of ageing & ageism. The realities of ageing raise awareness around our physical, mental, and psychological wellbeing and helps us plan for ageing well.
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Money Matters encourages us to work out the finances we need to age well.
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Care and care support contrasts care at home, care in an institution or care support within community. Ageing in place means exploring support and care options for the future.
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The importance of social connection and how relationships are especially valuable for us to age well.
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Alternative housing options describes some alternative housing options for our ageing future. Is there a case for ‘downsizing’ or ‘right-sizing’ your home as you grow older?
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End-of-life planning invites you to consider your wishes as you may become frailer and more dependent, about how to die a ‘good death’ and what a ‘good death’ looks like to you. And we have time to discuss: Living life with meaning and purpose inspires us to age well.
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Planning for your funeral. We plan for births, special occasions and weddings, why not funerals? How would you like to celebrate your life and what sort of occasion do you want your funeral to be.
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This conversation series gives me the opportunity to make a difference for my participants. I create the environment, set the scene with prompting questions which encourage participants to make informed decisions about their lives. Empowered and connected people take responsibility for their own positive ageing and this knowledge and, support will ripple through our communities.
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If you believe this conversation series is of interest to you, your friends and other people in your community please get in touch.
Book: Getting Older - Let's Talk about it
Getting older, let's talk about it! supports and encourages the baby-boomer generation and our wider community, to consider and prepare for the future as we age. 
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We are living longer and as we age there will be changes to our physical, mental, and emotional health. Over time this will lead to a natural decline in our functional and performance capacity. Hence the need for conversations, practical tools and forward planning to ensure we age well. The opportunities and the challenges of ageing well at home, a goal most older adults aspire to, are highlighted.
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This practical book invites you to take responsibility for ageing well by placing you in the driver's seat. It inspires you, either alone or with others, to re-examine and rediscover what is important to you, as you plan and determine the next stage of your life.
This book is available for purchase from online bookshops: Amazon.com.au
Or get in touch to purchase directly:
AU$30 (plus postage and handling A$12.50).
