I am part way through my Master of Social Work studies. I am passionate about the following areas: community solidarity / connections / development, end-of-life care, and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. I am particularly interested in working in my local area, Onkaparinga Council, where I can relate to people geographically. I bring a willingness to listen deeply, meet people where they are at and discover how I can be useful while walking alongside them.I am motivated to be ‘with’ people and being a welcoming host, rather than doing things ‘to’ them. I am also guided by the narrative therapy ideas of locating problems outside of people, and getting curious and exploring what different stories might exist or be possible. I am inspired to work collaboratively, as well as honouring people as experts in their own lives. Overall, I want to be useful in the community and work on social justice issues to achieve a more just society.I have participated in men’s work from 2010 onwards. This has involved attending weekend camps and ongoing ‘men’s circles’ which have ranged between formal and informal, with a key focus on empathetic, non-judgmental listening and building connections. My casual role as a Father Community Engagement Coordinator with PANDA is an extension of this.I have conceptualised my framework for being with people, as “The 3W’s - Wholeness, ‘Withness’ and Witness”. ‘Wholeness’ refers to being embodied (Reynolds, 2021), bringing my whole self into this work and considering the whole of the other person/s too. ‘Withness’ (Anderson, 2012) refers to being present with myself and others and being open to how our collaboration will unfold. ‘Witness’ refers to empathic connection (Compassion in Action, 2021) and social justice responses that 'resist indifference roping us in with feelings of inadequacy and overwhelm' (Weingarten, 2007) (Becker-Blease, 2017; Reynolds, 2020).Anderson, H. (2012) ... https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2012.01385.xBecker-Blease, K. (2017) ... https://doi.og/10.1080/15299732.2017.1253401 Compassion in Action. (2021, Dec 17) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQrWcOLF27M&ab_channel=CompassionInAction Reynolds, V. (2020) ... https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12293 Reynolds, V. (2021, July 7) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piLC_uo8EKs&ab_channel=VikkiReynoldsPhd.Weingarten (2007) ... https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203028438-3/hope-time-global-despair-kaethe-weingarten