‘Timor Awakening’ wellbeing program operates from Gold Coast
COVID-19 has been no obstacle to DVA’s Men’s Health Peer Education (MHPE) volunteer Gary Stone's Veterans Care Association. The group continues to provide their 9-day residential health and wellbeing education program ‘Timor Awakening’.
The program has already taken 12 groups of 25 veterans each to Timor Leste. However, because of COVID-19, they have delivered 4 programs on the Gold Coast, from the St Georges Defence Suites at picturesque Rainbow Bay.
Three of these have been introductory programs about how to nurture the body, mind and soul. They build rewarding and sustaining relationships and develop positive life purpose. The fourth trained 22 peer support mentors to deliver the intro programs, with a follow-up for the participants in the 6 months after the residential component.
Gary considers that peer support mentoring provides the best chance of improving the lives of veterans who may not respond well to the medical model of medication and cognitive behaviour therapy.
‘Through the example and encouragement of peers we help veterans develop a health and wellbeing plan that empowers them to take responsibility for their health,’ says Gary.
The program is available for all veterans, not just those who served in Timor.
The next Gold Coast program is being offered from 12 to 20 March 2022. Expressions of interest can be submitted via www.timorawakening.com
