Older Men’s Wellbeing Through Community Participation in Australia

This paper explores the wellbeing implications of older men’s community involvement. It is based on data from recent, mixed method, Australian research that investigated learning and wellbeing for older men (age over 50) in diverse sites for six community organisation types. It investigates men’s wellbeing outcomes as a consequence of participation in community organisations. The data illustrate the important health and wellbeing benefits, particularly to many older men, of regular, practical, hands-on activity and involvement. The paper includes a critical examination of the opportunities for enhancing health and wellbeing filtered through the World Health Organisation’s (WHO, 2003) Social Determinants of Health. This research illustrates how diverse community organisations have the capacity to address men’s health and wellbeing, particularly if they acknowledge the importance of both the role of men’s cultural norms and values and the value of men’s agency through grassroots organisations such as community men’s sheds.