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Neighbour Day's monthly e-Newsletter
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Winter & Social Connection

Winter can be a time of increased social isolation.  As many of us spend more time indoors, away from others, we may find ourselves feeling lonely. Loneliness is often stigmatised, however, research tells us that 1 in 4 Australians experienced loneliness pre-pandemic, and during the pandemic that has increased to one in two of us. So while we may feel isolated, we should remember we are not alone.  

We know that having good relationships with others increases general wellbeing and has a wider, positive impact on communities. Social connection makes us feel better partly because it helps prevent loneliness and isolation.
 
So how do we connect and stay connected in the cooler months?
 
During winter, this may take some extra effort.
 
That’s why this month on the Verandah, we look at three campaigns running throughout June - and invite you to get involved. They each work towards raising awareness and improving social connections, so getting involved is good for others, and good for you too!
 
We also invite you to visit the Neighbour Day website for tips, ideas, and free resources – because every day is neighbour day - and every day is a good day to connect with those around you.
  
So grab a cuppa and join us on your virtual Verandah!

You can make a difference  

It can be hard to imagine a world where anyone would deliberately want to harm an elderly person, but unfortunately, elder abuse is widespread.
 
What is elder abuse? Some instances of elder abuse are intended to exploit the person financially; you may have heard of scams targeting seniors.  
 
In other cases, it involves causing purposeful mental pain or distress, known as psychological abuse, or neglect, where caregivers don’t provide the basic necessities, like nutritious food, appropriate medication, safety, or assistance with hygiene.  
 
Wednesday 15 June World Elder Abuse Awareness Day reminds communities to check in with vulnerable family members, friends or neighbours to ensure their care adequately addresses their unique situation and needs, in a manner that enhances their quality of life.
 
Visit the Neighbour Day website for free connection cards, tips and ideas to reach out and connect with your neighbours in gentle ways.
 
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day seeks to prevent elder abuse incidents by giving targeted information and encouraging community participation on a broad scale. It is about all of us working together to bring greater recognition of the mistreatment of older people wherever they live, and to highlight the need for appropriate action.
 
If you, a friend or a family member, need further support, Relationships Australia has a variety of Elder Abuse Prevention and Support Services. For more information, you can go to our website to find a Relationships Australia centre near you.
 
Help spread the word for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15.

Healing & Connection  

The theme for this Refugee Week (19-25 June) is Healing.
 
“Australia and the rest of the world have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hit the reset button on how we behave towards one another. The importance of human connections has been underscored by the pandemic and such lessons can help us in so many ways. 
 
Mainstream and refugee communities alike can draw upon shared hardship to heal wounds, to learn from each other and to move forward. Healing can occur through storytelling, through community and also through realisation of our intrinsic interconnectedness as individuals.” [Refugee Council of Australia]
 
In 2022, organisations and individuals are encouraged to utilise the website for Refugee Week to find resources and events that will help this healing and renewal - and emerge a more fulfilled and connected society. Find out more here.
 
Here are two exciting organisations and programs to explore which are making a positive difference to the lives of both refugees and Australians.
 
CRISP: Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot – This new program enables groups of everyday Australians (including those in regional communities) to welcome refugees into their local area from ‘day one’ of their Australian journey and provide them with practical resettlement and integration support, in line with other community sponsorship programs operating successfully around the world. The program will support 1,500 refugees from 2022 to 2025.  Watch the video here.
 
Welcoming Australia is a  Very Neighbourly Organisation and a non-partisan movement and organisation committed to cultivating a culture of welcome and advancing an Australia where people of all backgrounds have equal opportunities to belong, contribute and thrive.

Shorts Day [TAS]  

Talking about mental health can be uncomfortable. SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY works to promote positive mental health and prevent suicide by reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help.
 
On Tuesday 21 June, the people of Tassie will come together to brave the cold … and brave the conversation for SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY’s Shorts Day!
 
You can get involved by wearing your shorts to work, school, sporting club or by hosting a fundraiser. Every dollar raised helps Stay ChatTY continue sparking mental health conversations in our community.

Click here to find out more and get involved.

It's all on the website!  

Check out the Neighbour Day website for free resources, ideas, tips, stories, and more - to help you connect and stay connected - every day!

Days to connect in person or virtually

There are good (and often important!) reasons to connect every single day.

Here are a few days to help get you started.

And remember, every day is neighbour day!
 
June 13-19  International Men's Health Week aims to increase awareness of the importance of good health in men, boys and their families.
 
June 15       World Elder Abuse Awareness Day seeks to prevent elder abuse incidents by giving targeted information and encouraging community participation on a broad scale. The day is about all of us working together to bring greater recognition of the mistreatment of older people wherever they live, and to highlight the need for appropriate action.
 
June 19-25  Refugee Week raises awareness about refugees and celebrates positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. While a refugee's journey begins with danger, it also begins with hope. Refugees flee their homelands in order to escape war, persecution or natural disaster and hope to find freedom, safety and security for themselves and their families; they hope to be given a chance to start a new life and recover from past trauma.
 
June 20      World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict, persecution or natural disaster. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.

June 21      Shorts Day [TAS]  Talking about mental health can sometimes be uncomfortable. On Tuesday 21 June, come together to brave the cold …and brave the conversation for SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY’s Shorts Day! You can get involved by wearing your shorts to work, school, sporting club or by hosting a fundraiser. Every dollar raised helps Stay ChatTY continue sparking mental health conversations in our community.
 
June 21      International Day of Yoga - Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word 'yoga' derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
 
June 27       PTSD Awareness Day - This international day raises awareness about Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to ensure more people know about the condition and more people who suffer PTSD will seek treatment. PTSD is the most common mental health disorder after depression.​

July 3 -10    NAIDOC Week - NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and our society.

July 13        Asalha Puja Day is one of the most sacred days in Buddhism. It is observed on the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eight lunar month (July), and is a celebration of the foundation of the Sangha (the community of Buddhist monks).

July 22        National Pyjama Day is all about wearing your favourite pair of PJ's to help The Pyjama Foundation raise much-needed awareness and funds for children in foster care.  

July 24         Stress Down Day is a fundraising event to help cover the cost of running Lifeline's 24 hour telephone counseling line - 13 11 14. Workplaces participate by enjoying a day of stress reducing activities, including wearing casual dress to work, in exchange for a donation to the cause.

July 25-31     Library and Information Week - The Australian Library and Information Association has been running Library and Information Week since 2001 - a week for all libraries and information services throughout Australia showcase their resources and services to their communities, through programs and events. Whether it's a library in your school, community, university, hospitals, cultural or law institutions, this week is an opportunity to learn more about what they do and the important roles they play in our local communities.

July 29        Schools Tree Day - Each year around 250,000 Australian school students participate in Schools Tree Day - a special National Tree Day event just for kids. It's a great opportunity for children to learn about nature, get outside and have fun at the same time. This Schools Tree Day, all schools and their students are encouraged get involved and plant some trees for a healthier planet.

July 30       The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.

July 31       National Tree Day - Planet Ark is calling for people to connect with nature by getting involved in National Tree Day, Australia's largest tree-planting and nature care event. People can participate by becoming National Tree Day site coordinators or attending plantings in their local areas.

Keeping you & your neighbours safe 

We recommend that people make themselves aware of the public health authorities’ advice and only do whatever neighbourly actions that are safe to do. 

Visit https://www.health.gov.au/ to stay up to date and informed, so that you can keep your neighbourhood healthy.

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Copyright © 2022 Relationships Australia Inc, All rights reserved.


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