Older Women Make Wise Leaders Evaluation Report

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OLDER WOMENs NETWORK AUSTRALIA Inc.

PATRON

Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC

Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

OLDER WOMEN MAKE WISE LEADERS

EVALUATION REPORT

A project funded by:

2007-08 Women's Leadership and Development

Programme Grants

Office for Women

Department of Families, Housing, Community

Services and Indigenous Affairs


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TITLE: Older Women Make Wise Leaders.

Project Evaluation Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This evaluation report aims to offer a broader and more in depth understanding of barriers faced by older

women to take on a leadership role within the community, increase civil participation and provide input

into government and/or services policy. It also provides an insight into how to overcome those barriers

and increase older womens participation in Government and agencies consultative forums. The report

throws light on how to assist older women to become leaders in their communities.

This evaluation was taken in five groups of Older Womens Network NSW (OWN NSW), participants of

the Older Women Make Wise Leaders project. The project was piloted through four metropolitan andone regional Sydney areas in NSW, utilising current OWN NSW groups as a platform to reach older

women. It is now the commitment and views of OWN Australia to further extend the benefits of this

project by sharing acquired knowledge, information and resources with OWN groups in other States and

Territories of Australia, most specifically in Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and ACT.

The main findings of this evaluation are:

Older women experience issues preventing them from taking an active role in the community.

Those issues were identified as isolation, poor self-esteem, lack of confidence and non-

identification with traditional older womens image held by society.

Activities that promote social inclusion, physical and mental wellbeing and stimulate discussion

ran in a friendly, inclusive, older women-only environment as those provided by Wellness

Centres, are effective in assisting women in overcoming issues preventing them from leadership

taking.

Activities ran through Wellness Centres facilitate empowerment of older women and valued

elders, assisting in their formation as leaders with knowledge and skills that benefit the

community


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Older women greatly benefit from accessible education when training programs are tailored to

their needs and planned with their input.

Activities and training tailored to the needs of older women resulted in more competent citizen,

involved in advocacy and social action by skilled community activists

Older women are committed to take on leadership roles within the community, when preventing

issues are addressed and appropriate training offered

Older women groups are able to build capacity by provided mentoring to peers

The key recommendations arising from this report are:

Funding programs that support a positive ageing approach and provide guidelines towards

initiatives that promote a holistic approach to health maintenance, inclusive of mental, physical

and emotional health strategies are essential in funding agendas.

Ongoing funding to offer activities in centres ran by older women for older women can be

extremely effective in assisting older women increase social and civil participation, feel inclusion,

and in facilitating their validation and empowerment.

Facilitation and access to education designed to up-skill older women by channeling their life

skills and experiences to leadership talents should be made available to all older women wishing

to be active members of the community.

Activities and training programs towards building Leadership of older women should be

considered in funding guidelines for civic programs. Older women leaders are effective

advocates that provide valuable input into Government policy and services development,

accurately and successfully transferring the views of their constituency.

Activities and educational programs towards building older womens leadership should be


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considered in funding programs that seek empowerment and self-sufficiency of community

groups, as it is a sustainable program with long-term outcomes facilitating mentoring of older

women by older women, building capacity.

INTRODUCTION

In May 2008 the Older Womens Network Australia Inc (referred here as OWN AUSTRALIA / OWN)

obtained funding from the Office for Women (FACHSIA) to conduct a leadership building project in

NSW. The Older Womens Network groups across NSW were experiencing a shortage of

community leaders to continue the work of a rapidly expanding organisation. Many of their active

leaders were founders of OWN and due to retire from active participation after 25 years on intense

work. New members were reluctant to take on those roles due to a number of reasons, particularly

feeling daunted at the prospect of replacing highly skilled, knowledgeable and experienced leaders.

The project was addressing an existing need.OWN had identified the need for building leadershipamong its members through research and consultation with older women. The organisation was

aware of the positive impact older women leaders have on the community. A thesis study conducted

on Older Womens Network by P. Reynolds established that the Older Women's Network had

become a voice for older women in shaping government policy: An ethnographic study was

selected, using methods of observer-participation and a focus group, in order to identify the benefits

of membership of the Older Women's Network. It was anticipated that this might assist health

professionals and others in developing policy and programs that effectively improve the health and

wellbeing of older women. Two major concepts, namely 'autonomy' and 'legitimization' emerged

from a five-step process of data analysis which reflected the complexities of ways in which older

women strive to legitimize their role in society as fully participating individuals, in control of their own

destinies1.

OWN had been working towards a validation of older women in society since its inception as a

network. One of the main barriers OWN faced in reaching Government and non-Government

agencies and policy makers was the lack of older women ready to take on a leadership role. Older

women's input into Government and non-Government policy and services continued to be limited.

1 Reynolds, P. For older women by older women. Autonomy and legitimization of older women through social action.

An ethnographic study of the Older Women's Network. University of Sydney (USyd), Faculty of Medicine. AgeingResearch Online.


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Globally, women are a small minority of all political representatives 2. Older women encounter a

number of barriers to fully participate in advocacy groups and community consultations. Many

women find current public forums intimidating and feel overwhelmed to take on leadership roles.

Older women sometimes believe they lack the skills or knowledge to become peer's

representatives. 'They often do not realise that, through their life experiences at home and at work,

they are highly skilled leaders, advocates, negotiators and networkers'3.

The main issues identified by OWN in this lack of womens active participation in the community

were poor self-esteem, isolation, lack of advocacy skills and lack of understanding of the community

and Government systems. OWN was struggling to fill in all the positions the organisation holds in a

number of committees and advisory bodies due to current leaders needing to retire and no

upcoming older women suitable for the roles.

The Older Women Make Wise Leaders project aimed to recruit more members to OWN NSWgroups, to train older women in community leadership and prepare them to take on leadership roles

within the organisation. The project identified first the issues faced by older women preventing them

from participating in an active leadership role and it sought to overcome those barriers through

tailored strategies. At a second stage, the project delivered training developed to the needs of these

older women to skill or up-skill them, and to assist their insertion into community leadership. Finally,

the project aimed to assist women to settle in leadership roles within their community by providing

support and guidance as required.

PROJECT CONTEXT

OWN AUSTRALIA is a community based self-help organisation that promotes the rights, dignity and

well-being of older women. OWNAUSTRALIAs objectives include:

assisting older women to develop specific skills in research, advocacy, lobbying,

networking and technology;

2Krook, M. (2007, Aug) Gender and Political Institutions: Implementing Quotas for Women in Politics. Paper

presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association. Online Retrieved 2008-06-10 fromwww.allacademic.com/meta/p210579_index.html 3 Leadership and Older Women. A summary of the Creating Supportive Neighbourhoods and Communities for Older

Women project, 2001. Retrieved from Community Builders NSW,http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/builder/leaders/older_w.html
http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p210579_index.htmlhttp://www.allacademic.com/meta/p210579_index.htmlhttp://www.allacademic.com/meta/p210579_index.html


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addressing issues of discrimination against older women; initiating and promoting

discussion and action about ageism, sexism, racism and feminism;

promoting appropriate policies and to lobby for legislative and other reforms on issues

affecting the quality of life of all older women and to work for equity for all older women;

working towards equity for all older women and recognition of the work/contribution of

older women in society;

promoting the rights, dignity and wellbeing of older women.

OWN AUSTRALIA is a non-profit community based organisation that caters for the needs of older

women through the provision of advocacy and services. OWN AUSTRALIA is founded, developedand managed by older women, making the organisation a paramount body of pragmatic knowledge

and expertise on issues affecting women at an older age.

OWN AUSTRALIAS BEGINNINGS:

In 1985 a group of members and project workers from the NSW Combined Pensioners Association

identified the need to establish a network that focussed on the issues, special needs, interests and

concerns of older women. In 1993 the network became incorporated, having grown into a specialist

organisation, regularly providing expertise and input into Government policy and matters related to

older women.

OWN AUSTRALIA has branches in 4 States of Australia. Once a year a members conference

brings all branches together to discuss older womens issues, share information, updates and

achievements with each branch and develop a national agenda of older womens priorities. The role

of OWN AUSTRALIA and all its State branches is to promote the rights, dignity and wellbeing of

older women through activities that develop womens leadership, encourage participation, contribute

towards physical and mental wellbeing and assist capacity building.

Own Australia and its State branches functions include peer development and support, advocacy,

research, lobbying, training and service provision in the form of activities for older women.


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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF OWN AUSTRALIA:

To promote mutual support and friendship between older women

To vigorously resist discrimination in all its form but particularly discrimination directed

towards older women

To focus on healthy ageing strategies which include social, intellectual, physical and

emotional factors

To recognise and use older womens skills and capacities, and to encourage the

development of other capacities

To advance the interests of older women through research, advocacy, lobbying and

networking on issues affecting older womens lives

The project worked with four groups from metropolitan Sydney (Sutherland OWN, Sydney OWN,

Baulkham Hills OWN, Northside OWN), and one regional group from south of Sydney (Illawarra

OWN). In addition, a number of older women leaders from other OWN groups participated in the

training component of this project. These women came from Parramatta OWN, Central Coast OWN,

and OWN leaders working with Older Aboriginal Women from La Perouse.

Older women participating in the project came from diverse cultural, economic, educational andreligious backgrounds.

These social elements enriched the educational component of this project by exposing participants

to the challenges of catering for the needs of a diverse community when advocating on behalf of

their group.


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PROGRAM RATIONALE AND LOGIC

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM

The Older Women Make Wise Leaders was designed as an activities and training project aiming tofacilitate older womens participation in society through holding roles in community and government

groups to advocate, promote and voice the needs, achievements and views of older women. Training

and activities were the means to assist older women to overcome barriers such as isolation, self-esteem

issues and limited knowledge of the community and government systems. The project also provided

support to facilitate participants insertion in the community as leaders, becoming role models for older

women and the trainers of future leaders within their groups. It was the view of this project that society

would benefit from the skills, knowledge and expertise older women bring to policy development,

community services management and advisory bodies.

OWN Australia and all its branches (referred here as OWN) had identified the need for an activities

and training program for leadership through research and consultation with older women.

A series of focus groups and discussion meetings with OWN members in different areas of Australia in

2002 resulted in the report Four discussion guides on leadership and capacity building for older women .The report documents that OWN groups are finding it difficult to encourage older women to take a

leading role and, in some areas have had difficulty finding enough women prepared to assist with the

running of groups. We need to find ways to build the confidence of members in developing and running

organisations. Older women often acknowledge their willingness to be involved but sometimes believe

they lack the skills or knowledge to be useful at an organisational level. They often do not realise that,

through their life experiences at home and at work, they are highly skilled leaders, advocates,

negotiators and networkers.4

In considering all the previously stated research findings, the Older Women Make Wise Leaders projectsought first to address the issues preventing older women from community participation.

4 Bishop, M. Four discussion guides on leadership and capacity building for older women. Real Options International,2002.


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THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL INCLUSION: THE ACTIVITIES PROGRAM

The project aimed to increase older womens participation in the community through activities and

training. The activities program was run in conjunction with Wellness centres from some OWN groups.

There are currently six Wellness Centres in the Sydney area. The project ran an average of 20 activities

per week over 4 terms (39 weeks) through Wellness Centres in the Inner City, Southern and Northern

areas, and one regional group from Coniston.

At first, the project recruited older women from OWNs membership as well as from different sectors

of the community, including smaller or special needs groups. Participants were members of ethno-

specific groups, Aboriginal older womens group and regional/rural groups. Recruited participants

were encouraged to share their experiences, life skills, and views as well as develop friendships in

an inclusive environment and through activities that promoted interaction.

Numerous programs and research conducted by OWN demonstrated that older women needed first

to overcome isolation before being able to be active participants in the community. Isolation was

identified to arise from a sense of being misunderstood and/or not being heard in a society that holds

an inaccurate image of older womens identity, values and needs. Activities that brought a sense of

belonging, common values and promoted social networking proved to be effective in helping older

women to reinsert themselves in society.

Reports such as Kicking Up Autumn Leaves, an evaluation on the Wellness project ran byOWNNSW demonstrates that building older womens self-esteem, counteract society stereotype of


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5 Pinn, J et al. Kicking Up Autumn Leaves: A Report on the Women Owning Wellness Evaluation Project. NSCCHP,North Ryde, 2006.pg 58.

older women and promote wellbeing through activities can result in participants gaining confidence

and skills to become active members of the community: The supportive, interactive and participatory

culture of Wellness groups generates citizenship skills that are put to use both within and outside

Wellness groups. There were numerous examples of women taking on new community roles [],

speaking at conferences, and becoming active in community politics, charities and boards. 5.

This first stage of the project encouraged women to break isolation, increase motivation, feel valued

members of the community, validate their networking, leadership and social skills acquired through

volunteering and life experiences. Activities such as Tai Chi, Feldenkrais, Drumming, International

Dancing, Strengthening and Gentle Exercises, Qi Gong, Creative Movement classes ran by qualified

facilitators, as well as Discussion groups and Social Outings built womens confidence, assisted in

combating isolation, provided friendships and social networking.

Activities promoted interaction between participants and experienced leaders of OWN, exposing the

former to a prolific systems advocacy work and dynamic community participation environment

created by the later.

Participants of Tai Chi classes


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Over 250 women benefitted through the projects activities component ran through OWNs Wellness

centres, with many of them crediting their participation in these activities for significantly improving

their lifestyles, mental health and social lives. (see page 22: Snapshot: Outcomes from participating

in the Activities Program)

BUILDING WOMENS CAPACITY TOWARDS LEADERSHIP: THE TRAINING PROGRAM

The training program, the second stage of our project, offered education on lobbying, systems

advocacy, policy formulation, submission writing, service planning and community management to

older women that have come together through the activities program.

The Training Program was tailor designed in consultation with older women, after surveying their

educational needs.

Helping each other in gentle exercise class

Roxana facilitating training on submission writing


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An invitation to the women to attend training was designed and distributed widely among OWN

groups.

The invitation ensured that issues of self-esteem, self-doubt, and self-perception of not being able to

learn or not having enough literacy or basic skills were addressed in the wording and design. The

invitation suggested an inclusive environment, a training designed specifically for older women and

catering for different levels and needs. The Project Officer also visited OWN groups to discuss these

issues and address their needs.

Two-day training sessions on Community Leadership were offered in two locations: south of Sydney

and central Sydney. The Sydney south session catered for Own groups from Sutherland and Illawarra

(regional). The Sydney CBD session was accessible to groups from the west, east, north and city.

Although the initial targeted number of women to be trained as leaders was 40 women, due to the

overwhelming response to our flyers the project stretched its resource and trained 58 women; 35

women attended the city session and 23 participants trained in Sutherland.

Training participants


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The training courses covered the following topics:

Community Management:

Agenda and Minutes

Role and responsibilities of Community Management members

Boards and Office Bearers roles

Governance Models for Community Groups

Legal and Financial Accountability

Strategic Vision and Objectives

Rules of Organisations: Constitution

Submission Writing:

Whats a submission

How to read guidelines

How to write effective submissions

How to gather information and supporting evidence for a submission

Submissions Formats

Policy

Definitions of Policy

What is policy



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Why have Policies?

What does Policy look like?

Practical aspects of keeping Policy

How to write organisational policies

Key principles in writing and keeping Policy

Advocacy

What is advocacy

Skills and information: know your goals, your target community, issues

Most effective strategies for effective advocacy: Communication, Bureaucratic, Political, Legal

and Media strategies

Systems advocacy

Networking

Preparing a Community Action Plan

Community leadership

What makes a good community leader?

Skills and attributes of a leader

The course offered theory and practice, allowing women to apply acquired knowledge into practical

exercises reflecting common activities in community work such as writing submissions for funding



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and advocating Government on behalf of older women. Practical exercises were facilitated through

small groups, developing womens discussion, cooperation and negotiations skills often needed in

community work.

In addition, and in-line with the main concept of the project of older women training their peers, the

training included a talk by an experienced OWN leader, offering inspiration, reviewing their path to

becoming leaders and showcasing a role model for participants.

Participants of the training course ran at Sydney CBD also had the opportunity to observe advocacy

through art when the OWN Theatre Group performed songs of their repertoire highlighting older

womens issues such as surviving violence and health matters.

Renate Watkinson, one of OWNs

experienced leaders encouraging older women traineeswith an inspiring talk

Glenda presenting on behalf of her team


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The aims of the Theatre Group are to present a positive image of ageing, with performances that

educate, inform and entertain.

A COMMUNITY LEADER IN THEIR OWN WORDS

One of the allocated tasks to groups in training was to define the qualities, skills and knowledge

required to make a good community leader on a large piece of paper on the wall. Group members draw

a picture of a leader and attached essential qualities to it. Some of the results from this exercise are

below.

It is interesting to notice that few groups mentioned femininity or sexy as attributes of a leader. In further

exploration of these concepts, participants stated the importance of validating their femininity and

special female attributes through their work as older women, fighting prejudice of female qualities/brain

dichotomies and opposing societys misconceptions of asexual women at an older age.

OWN Theatre Group


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All seeing Remembering our femininity

All hearing Strength

All feeling Creative

Motivated Integrity

Energetic Abundance of outreach

Healthy Motivated Caring

Dedicated Assertive Good communicator

Confident Strong woman Able

Idealistic Trustworthy Advocate

Supportive Willing Knowledgeable

Able to write submissions Sharing

Tolerant Hard worker Pleasant Kind

Connections in the community Resilient

Great speaker Sexy

Well presented TalentedGreat personality Confidence

Compassionate Experience of life

Like other people Good planner

Outgoing Good people manager

(Good) Listener Good organizer

Energy Good health

Able Strong Sincere

Supportive Resilient Intelligent

Perceptive Kind Tactful

Compassionate Good listener Tough

Non judgmental Persistent Loyal

Accountable Creative Honest

Team player Practical Flexible

Sexy

(adheres to principles of) Confidentiality


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OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT

The Older Women Make Wise Leaders project has been highly effective in preparing older women

for leadership. As a result of the training, participants have become discerning community members

taking on strategic positions in management committees, project steering committees, service

delivery management and advisors to Government services.

Some of the achievements of older women throughout the 12 months of this projects life are:

Ten participants were successful at obtaining grants for OWN groups through five well

written, focused, professional submissions;

Seven participants were involved in starting two new OWN groups (Hills OWN and

Illawarra Wellness), having previously researched the older womens population profile

and services available to them. One of the groups, Illawarra OWN, has at the time of this

report, over 60 members.

Two experienced OWN members supported the new leaders in promoting the new

groups activities, negotiating venues, launching the groups and networking with other

services and agencies to share resources;

NEW BORN LEADERS: THE POST-TRAINING STAGE

Skill acquired through the training resulted in new leaders able to merge their leadership capacity to

their already existing life skills, knowledge and experience to offer them to the community.

Increasing the number of community skilled older women has built the capacity of OWN to

represent the views of their members and contribute to the development of public policy and

service delivery.

Motivated new leaders discussing projects for their groups


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Twelve participants took part in Strategic Planning for their groups;

Five participants worked together in developing a short activities program targeted to

recruit older women to the group;

Twenty four participants have become members of 15 agencies committees since

empowered with the skills and knowledge required to be part of a board. Committees

work on the areas of advocacy, service administration, newsletter editorial, peer support,

fundraising, promotion and OWN representation;

More than thirty participants collaborated in submission and responses to Governmentsreview of the future of community health in NSW, federal policy on womens health, local

Councils community consultations on services, preparing for aging health survey, local

Government consultation on Ageing Well strategies.

Seven leaders met and offered support, training opportunities and resources to an

Indigenous older women from La Perouse (Sydney East)

Four OWN groups upgrade the design and reviewed contents of their brochures,

promoted their activities more effectively and increased membership

BUILDING CAPACITY:The Older Women Make Wise Leaders project is proving to benefit older women beyond its 12months of operation, delivering long-term beneficial outcomes and making them sustainable. New

leaders are now training other older women by mentoring in community roles, supporting them to

become future leaders.

A performance by THE DAMES, Sutherland OWN Theatre Group atthe launch of Hills OWN: inspiring leadership and showcasing a

positive image of older women


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Their guidance, knowledge sharing and peer support is already placing new group members in

active roles in the community where they can offer their input, views, knowledge and skills. Some of

the many advocacy, project planning and community work activities brewing at the time of publishing

this report are:

Illawarra Wellness has coordinated the first of their planned monthly luncheons,

attracting over 30 participants, including Council staff. The luncheons aim to promote

the group, consult activities program with members and stimulate friendships and

networking. Leaders contacted Alzheimers Australia and obtained an educational kit to

facilitate Mind Games for attendees.

Sutherland OWN has met with members and shared their knowledge of submissionwriting acquired through the training component of this project, resulting in capacitating

more women to write funding proposals

Northside and Illawarra OWN are working towards a joint proposal of funding for

international dancing classes and facilitating of a writing group

OWNs Sutherland, Sydney, Northside, Illawarra, Blacktown and Bankstowns Wellness

projects are preparing issues and discussion items for a Wellness Planning Day

All the above mentioned activities are being carried by OWN leaders, who are mentoring other

women through the work and in an inclusive and supportive environment. It is It is foreseen through

this mentoring that older women active in the community continue influencing, encouraging and

motivating older women within their groups to have active roles in society.

The project has stimulated capacity building by training the future trainers of older women.

KEY LEARNINGS

The key learnings for OWN Australia from the implementation of the Older Women Make Wise

Leaders project are:

The barriers preventing women to fill community roles can be overcame through an

activities and training program tailored to their needs


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The high number of participants in this project surpassed OWNs research findings,

anecdotal information, and estimate ofolder womens commitment to advocacy and

community roles when appropriate tools and support are provided.

The pilot of this project through OWN NSW has provided a picture of the project in a

smaller scale, allowing for a detailed observation of strategies and activities useful in

recruiting older women and developing their leadership potential. The pilot project

has generated a model plan to develop similar projects in other States, with

information and resources to facilitate leadership development.

A successful mentoring model of peer support by older women is rapidly building

OWNs capacity, expertise and strength, reinforcing the organisations profile of being

a peak body and strong player in the community field

The project has proven to be of great benefit to older women wanting to become active

members of the community with many participants thriving in community roles

Keeping health and happy with gentleexercises


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EVALUATION METHODS:

Surveys were tools used in:Obtaining information on age, backgrounds and socio-economic status of participants

Consulting women on developing the activities program

Finding out the impact of activities program had on their wellbeing and social life

Establishing most relevant topics for training, location preference and special needs

Community consultations to find out womens preferences for activities and sought outcomes frombecoming part of a group were held after launching each new group.

Feedback forms were used after launching new groups seeking comments and encouraging input.

Evaluation forms for rating presentations, relevance of topics and knowledge and skills gained werecollected from training participants

Groups meetings facilitated direct face-to-face contact with older women, discussions and consultationson evaluating hurdles encountered in community leadership role

One-to-one interviews evaluated new leaders insertion in community roles. Individual reports onoutcomes from their community work facilitated evaluation on applying gained knowledge

Cate Turner, OWN Australia Convenor, speaking at the launch of Hills OWN


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FINDINGS AND STATISTICS

SNAPSHOT OF PARTICIPANTS AGE AND ETHNIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS:Number of participants surveyed: 200

AGE

AGE GROUP PARTICIPANTS

55 years old and under 3

56 65 52

66 75 82

76 85 46

86 + 8

Illegible 1

Did not answer 8

Highlight: 41% of participants are 66-75 year old

BACKGROUND

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN/ ETHNICITY PARTICIPANTS

Aboriginal Australia 2

Australia 118

Canada 2

Croatia 2

Did not answer 13

Ecuador 1Egypt 1

Germany 2

Greece 3

Italy 10

Japan 1

Lebanon 5

Malta 9

Mauritius 5

New Zealand 1

Philippines 1Romania 1

South Africa 2

Spain 1

UK 19

Vietnam 1

Highlight:

Australian: 59%

Other countries: 33.5%Non-English Speaking Background: 21.5%


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INCOME

TYPE OF INCOME PARTICIPANTS

Aged Pension 86

No Centrelink benefit 49

Centrelink benefit (not specified) 43

Disability Benefit 8Carer Pension 2

No answer 1

Superannuation 2

Partner Allowance 2

Widow Pension 5

Single Benefit 2

Highlight: 74% receive Government financial assistance

HOUSINGHOUSING STATUS PARTICIPANTS

Own 181

Rent 12

Other living arrangement 3

No answer 4

Highlight: 90.5% own their home

From 200 surveyed participants, 80.5 % of participants found the activities helpful in:

An evaluation from the training shows:

97.5 % of participants found that the training delivered all the information they expected to

receive, while the remaining 2.5% stated they obtained most the information sought

When asked what topics or information they would like to explore further, participants chose

advocacy, policy and submission writing as the main topics of interest.

Snapshot: positive outcomes from participating in the Activities program

Managing pain or a health condition 116

Dealing with sadness or depression 82

Self-esteem issues 103

Not feeling supported by family or society 46

Dealing with isolation or loneliness 65

Dealing with feelings of not being important/valued by the community 46

Counteracting feeling old 75


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In a question opened to more than one choice, 85% of participants found the training

interesting; 77.5% found it relevant and thought provoking; 70% of participants identified the

training as challenging; 57.7% found the training comprehensive; 5% found it difficult and 0%

marked the training irrelevant or too long.

90% of participants felt more confident to become a community leader and participate in

community meetings after the 2-days training.


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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

OWN Australia would like to thank the Office for Women for funding the Older Women Make Wise

Leaders project, giving older women an opportunity to grow, feel validated and becoming leaders in

our community

A special thank you to all OWN NSW management committee and groups that enthusiastically

welcomed this initiative and offered their support and Wellness centres to the Activities Program.

This project would have not been possible without the assistance of members of OWN groups

creating a positive image and a welcoming environment to all older women participants.

To the OWN Wellness Subcommittee for their support, input and steering of this project

To Noreen Hewett and Renate Watkinson for inspiring training participants with their insightful

presentations and offering a role model of older womens leadership.

To OWN NSW staff, and in particular to Kris Ferguson for the financial administration of this project.

To the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts and the Sutherland United Services Club for generously

allowing us the use of their training rooms and facilities

And a very special thank you to all the women that participated in this program; for their input, their

enthusiasm, their wisdom and talents, their knowledge and skills that selflessly share with the rest of

the community, giving us all, the wider society, a positive image of ageing and offering a role model

to other older women.

October 2009

Evaluation by:

Roxana Rascon

Consultant

www.consultant.vpweb.com.au
http://www.consultant.vpweb.com.au/http://www.consultant.vpweb.com.au/http://www.consultant.vpweb.com.au/

Documents

Older Women Make Wise Leaders Evaluation Report