Network Members
Who are network members?
Network members can be anyone who embraces PlanNET's values and recognises the focus person's gifts and capacities.
What is their role?
It is the primary role of a network member to be a friend. This covers a wide range of activities and supports and may include:
- Touching base by phone or email,
- Calling by or meeting for coffee or sharing a meal,
- Arranging regular and one off outings,
- Rejoicing and celebrating good outcomes and achievements,
- Supporting in times of sadness and disappointment
- Listening,
- Brain storming and problem solving,
- Encouraging dreams,
- Encouraging the development of gifts and talents,
- Sharing experiences and having fun.
The unique experience and knowledge of individual network members means that they may
also contribute by:
- Mentoring, advising,
- Providing expertise,
- Advocating,
- Monitoring services,
- Connecting with the community.
How much time is expected of a network member?
The amount of time varies, as it does with all friendships in life. There will be specific events that you share together (like network meetings, or celebrating a birthday) while at other times it will be a brief contact. Often, it is the little and frequent contacts that make the biggest impression - the phone call, the email, the occasional coffee - and they enable you to get to know the focus person on a one-to-one basis.
How might network members themselves benefit from being involved?
- They enjoy the reciprocal relationship with the focus person. They enjoy getting to know them, spending time and sharing similar interests. Without the structure provided by PlanNET, some felt that they wouldn't have known how to go about developing such relationships.
- Their own networks are extended as they get to know and interact with other network members.
- Network membership has provided them with a structured and specific way to assist someone they care about.
- It provides a means for people to make a difference in their local community.
- For some people, involvement in the network has inspired them to attend to fractured relationships in their own life, thus strengthening their own network.
- It brings people together to work toward a common goal.
- It raises community awareness of the social isolation of people with a disability.
- It contributes to the community becoming a more inclusive place.
- It contributes to the community becoming a safer place.
If you would like to learn more, please contact our office:
T: 08 8372 1401
info@plan-netsa.com.au