Welcome to the Uniting Communities Overcoming Loneliness monthly e-news. We’ll keep you up to date with the latest news about loneliness initiatives, research, innovative case studies and data.
If you have a story to share about how your work or organisation is overcoming loneliness, please contact us at advocacy@unitingcommunities.org
South Australia
New South Australian inquiry into loneliness
A motion for an inquiry into loneliness which was introduced by Hon Connie Bonaros, Member of the Legislative Council, has passed the upper house with unanimous support.
The inquiry will examine:
(a) the prevalence and causes of loneliness within the South Australian community;
(b) the effectiveness of current programs to improve social connection;
(c) opportunities for increased investment in local community groups which bring people together;
(d) opportunities for the funding of new programs and initiatives to address loneliness;
(e) the development of a loneliness strategy to advance social connection;
(f) the creation of a ministerial portfolio for loneliness or the specific inclusion of loneliness under the ministerial portfolio for health and wellbeing or another existing portfolio.
Can you help Spark with their new survey?
Get involved in Spark’s new survey, seeking the perspectives, ideas, and experiences from men of all ages.
The responses will contribute to new solutions and programs that inspire mateship and increase connection between men.
‘Spark: Igniting Human Connection’ is a community-academic collaboration between The University of South Australia and The Hut Community Centre, and now has new Spark programs launching across the community to increase connection.
Talk Listen Connect South Australia
Talk Listen Connect (TLC) believes in a world where there are millions of people who are creating and supporting social connections for people who are feeling lonely and isolated.
TLC aims to support as many people as possible to take part in their workshops, build their skills and confidence making a difference in their community, workplace and neighbourhood.
Volunteering to overcome loneliness
Volunteerability supports people with disability to engage in volunteering by working with people, to get to know their skills and interests and connect them to a volunteer role that suits.
They provide support through every step of the way, where required, to get involved and engaged in volunteering.
They prioritise a person centred and strength-based approach.
Australia
Developments that create connections
‘Mirvac’ has been working towards communal togetherness in their developments by designing its buildings and complexes with several communal spaces to enable residents to come together.
“We really focus on creating and curating that community experience so design and develop apartments that enhance that sense,” said Warwick Bible, Mirvac general manager, development NSW.
At the company’s latest master-planned development, the 10-building NINE by Mirvac at Willoughby, Sydney, there are plenty of spaces, from communal lounge and barbecue areas in buildings to parks, a playground, a room with a fireplace and a community clubroom that’s bookable for dinners and parties. A community co-ordinator also organises a range of social events, including author talks, pickleball competitions and meet-your-neighbour nights.
Social connection toolkit for residential aged care (RAC)
Swinburne University have released they latest toolkit which aims to assist RAC staff to discuss with residents, the kinds of social connection activities that will best meet their preferences.
The Toolkit was implemented in four RAC facilities across New South Wales and Victoria. The impacts for residents, staff and organisations were evaluated.
Read more
Young people and loneliness
A new policy report from Ending Loneliness Together explores the issue of loneliness amongst young people.
The report highlights why a whole-of-government approach is required to embed social connection outcomes into all policies that shape the way young people live, learn, work, and engage with their communities.
New loneliness data from Medibank
According to the latest Medibank Loneliness Population Index, just 36 per cent of Australians say they would be able to identify the signs of loneliness, while just less than half (39 per cent) say they would know who to talk to if someone they know is experiencing it.
Clinical psychologist Dr Tabitha Keon discusses how we can build the confidence to better identify loneliness in ourselves and others.
International
Transformative Narratives for Socially Connected Communities (US)
Register now for the next Socially Connected Communities webinar on January 22, 3-4 pm ET, about Transformative Narratives for Socially Connected Communities.
Hear from Joanne Lee, Senior Project Director with Healthy Places by Design, who will share about the Narratives for Health initiative and its process to develop national narratives to support socially connected communities.
World Health Assembly resolution on social connection
At the margins of the World Health Assembly earlier this year, the governments of Chile and the United States of America, with the support of the governments of Sweden and Morocco – all countries represented on the WHO Commission on Social Connection – publicly announced their intent to pursue a first-ever World Health Assembly resolution on social connection.
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