Rock & WaterAddressing stigma and social isolation

+  Michael SchmidtHIV+ Peer Educator and Support (Acting)WA AIDS Council

Rock & Water: What is it?

A psycho-physical approach: experiential exercises supporting development of self-awareness through physical exercises

Lack of meaningful programs that targeted key aspects of young men's development

School program to assist in reducing sexual violence, crimes and aggression perpetuated by teenage boys

Rock & Water provides:

•Pathway to self awareness

•Increased self-confidence and social functioning

Body Awareness

Emotional Awareness Self Awareness

Rock AttitudeAwareness of one's own possibilities and personal journey in life

Exhibits:

•Resoluteness

•Being strong-willed

•Self assuredness

May close off to the opinions and offerings from others

May confront others in relation to their opinion or point of view

Need to exhibit some ‘rock’ qualities to respond to and manage bullying

Represents insight and experienceValuing flexibility within human relationships

Demonstrates:

•Strong awareness of own feelings and ideas•Able to respond with understanding to people around them

Representative of:

•Sharing•Co-operative behaviour•Negotiating•Being able to respond to a changing environment

Social harmony and positive relationships require an individual to exhibit ‘water’ qualities

Water Attitude

Dominant attitude: ‘rock’ or ‘water’?

Appropriate use of both attitudes, challenging the negative characteristics of each

Deeper level of self awareness into applying each attitude

Why Rock & Water at WAAC?

•Previous self-defence workshops

•Combination of the physical and the emotional

•Some feel their body lets them down

•Challenging physical capabilities

•Developing emotional insight

•Dealing with bullying (stigma) – emotionally

•Developing resilience – physically and emotionally

Rock & Water Evaluation

In your own words, what do you think you learnt from the workshop?

•How to be more aware of myself•Gaining a greater sense of control in a physical sense•More confident than I used to be•I can be strong•Reminded me of posture providing positive or negative image to others and importance of strong and confident posture•Power of expression through the eyes•Reminded me of some things to let go•Technique and physical approach•Self confidence, centring and focussing

Rock & Water Evaluation

Use one word to describe the workshop

Mind lifting

Confidence

Well worth it

Great

Basic

Rewarding

Invigorating

BondingFun

Rock & Water Evaluation

Verbal feedback in the checkout

“With my health issues it was good to feel some confidence in my body”

“I was reminded of my strength”

“I want to do some more hitting!”

“I was reminded of some martial arts training I did”

“I learnt how to punch”

“I’ve got some confidence there”

Rock & Water

Living well: Addressing Stigma and Social Isolation

• Feedback mostly very positive• Experiential: fun/playful but also insightful• Addressing stigma/bullying• 70% of participants newly engaged

Thank you!

What do you have more of?

Rock or water?