Defence veterans in Canberra have been granted the opportunity to support their local community with a surprising activity … by hosting yoga classes.
ACT Minister for Seniors and Veterans Emma Davidson announced the 2021-22 Seniors and Veterans Grant Programs recipients today, 3 May, which will fund diverse initiatives supporting community connection.
Through this funding, local veterans are being supported to enroll in “trauma-aware” yoga training to help improve their fellow veterans’ mental health outcomes.
According to Frontline Yoga CEO, Rachael Day, “veterans are more likely to attend and continue attending yoga classes if they are taught by others in their community”.
“This funding gives Frontline Yoga the opportunity to provide more free trauma-aware yoga, assist veterans in finding their community and continue to support each other to positive mental health outcomes.”
Older Canberrans can look forward to more table tennis coaching sessions through the funding. Seniors are being encouraged to join the group at Table Tennis ACT and hit the table with their oldest member, who has celebrated their 91st birthday.
Table Tennis ACT president, Heather Tomlinson, said, “Table Tennis ACT is thrilled to receive over $6,000 for Seniors Take Up Table Tennis. Group coaching sessions for those aged 55+ will engage many in a fun, healthy, social activity on a weekly basis”.
“Some participants may even go on to compete at the National Veterans tournament being held in Darwin in 2022 and Canberra in 2023. Our oldest member is 91 and our oldest pennant player is 88; it is never too late to start learning how to play.”
Ms Davidson said the ACT community is “creative, innovative, adaptive, and social”.
“The recipients of the seniors and veterans grant programs have demonstrated this and will support community reconnection following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
“These projects will reduce social isolation that older Canberrans and the veteran community have faced over the past few years.”
The Veterans Grant Program has provided $46,436 to eight programs including:
• establish a veteran’s support program across the ACT and wider region in partnership with Bowls Gr8 for Brains and Invictus Australia
• support to train veterans in trauma-aware yoga teacher training
• upgrades to dedicated veterans support facilities and centres.
A total of $80,000 has been provided to 14 programs in the Seniors Grant Program. This includes funding for:
• a transport service for isolated seniors to attend a monthly session of storytelling over a shared meal
• musical and creative art therapy workshops for elderly residents within ACT retirement villages and nursing homes
• delivery of holistic activities to support First Nations elders to age healthy and active through physical, social, emotional, spiritual and mental wellbeing
• develop a video resource working alongside local older LGTBI+ people living with HIV to support local LGBTIQ+ awareness and inclusivity training.
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