Innovative initiatives for 'community connection' in Australia
There's a plethora of initiatives from across the health, community and social innovation worlds
There are many initiatives that can justifiably fit within the broadest umbrella of social prescribing. For example you might come across terms such as “lifestyle medicine”, “social health” or “nature prescriptions”.
While the practice of social prescribing typically refers to the scenario where a doctor or primary care provider refers patients to social activities, it is also worthwhile to look at broader initiatives that promote ‘community connection’ to advance individual wellbeing.
Pilots
IPC Health (Victoria)
A social prescribing pilot run by this large community health provider in Melbourne’s West (Victoria)
Plus Social for Injured Workers (NSW)
Run by the local health service PCCS, this service helped injured workers to access a range of social group activities and local services based on their needs and interests. Examples include relaxation, cooking, art and photography classes, health education, financial counselling, relationship counselling and housing assistance.
PCCS Early Childhood (NSW)
Another pilot from the PCCS health service targeting early childhood and education.
Ways to Wellness (Queensland)
This pilot takes a whole community approach to ending social isolation through a social prescribing network.
Check In and Chat (Victoria)
A telephone based service that allows people to have regular conversations with trained staff. Especially relevant to people isolated by COVD-19.
Community Connections
The poster child for community development has now gone global. Helping men connect, stay active and join peers in community activity.
This grassroots initiative aims to inspire and activate thriving in regional communities (the pilot is in Queensland). It includes a variety of local activities designed to bring groups in the community together.
This inspiring initiative aims to link families up with other families to support them and enable them to make the changes they want in their lives. Co-designed by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) and run by Uniting Communities, this program is run in several parts of South Australia.
Yet another inspiring initiative by TACSI. Our Town “funds and empowers rural and regional communities to build new capabilities to meet the mental health challenges they face, both now and into the future”.
International Examples Worth Mentioning
This community-wide approach to wellbeing is running in a number of locations in the USA.
There are many other examples out there so please get in touch if you have some additions!