Making it Count! Older women’s contribution to Australian communities

Making it Count! is a social research and training project that builds on previous work of Real Options and the Older Women’s Network (Australia), (OWN). In this project we are working with OWN groups in five to eight areas across Australia to:

• Identify, survey and record what older women do within their area
• Process this local information to form a profile of older women’s contribution
• Identify important projects that need support (financial and other)
• Assist older women to prepare submissions for funding and other support

The project aims to ensure the sustainability of current and future projects of OWN groups. It uses a form of action research to give older women the opportunity to consider what works and what doesn’t and make changes as the project goes along so that we get a better outcome.

Action research is grounded in a participatory and flexible model of education, which encourages responsiveness to local knowledge and skills, the needs of the community and the participants. It has proved to be a great way of exploring social capital with older women.

Reports of previous projects with the Older Women’s Network (Australia)

• Should the Hours Count? A report on an action research project measuring social capital.
• ‘I’d like to help…’ A capacity building project on leadership. Four discussion guides on leadership and capacity building for older women

These reports are available from www.ownaus.org.au