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'Tis the season
to be neighbourly...
Relationships Australia firmly believes in the power of the Australian community and neighbourly relationships to support Australia’s most vulnerable, help end loneliness, and work together to ensure respectful and safe relationships throughout the pandemic, the festive season and beyond.
During what has been another difficult year for everyone, one of the bright spots of each month for us has been compiling Verandah. We are fortunate to be the recipient of so many very neighbourly ideas, stories and actions, from individuals and organisations in Australia - and around the world. When you write to tell us you enjoyed something that we published, or send us a story or creative connections tip, it makes our day.
As we head into the holiday season, we’d like to take a moment to thank everyone (and we mean everyone!) whose kindness and generosity has helped create connections and support people across Australia throughout 2021. Especially those who’ve kept at it, worked harder than ever, and continue to do so.
Also thanks again to YOU – our very neighbourly readers. It is at times like these that we really need to know and support our neighbours, both near and far.
The Neighbour Day campaign allows us to share, connect, amplify, empower, enable, inform, resource, support - and do whatever else we can do to help grow social connection and meaningful relationships in Australia – every day of the year. Encouraging social connection and respectful relationships is the essence of Neighbour Day.
Research shows that our society is becoming increasingly lonely, and for many, the holiday season can be a difficult time of the year. In this edition of Verandah, we share connection information, ideas and tips, and more to help you stay connected during the summer months and of course, to help celebrate Neighbour Day 2022!
Regardless of how you plan to spend the holiday season and celebrate the beginning of the new year, don't forget to check in with your neighbours (near and far), as a few well wishes never go astray.
So grab a cuppa and join us on your virtual Verandah!
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We are delighted to welcome and acknowledge the work of three new national Very Neighbourly Organisations. Very Neighbourly Organisations (VNO) are organisations that uphold and promote the principles of Neighbour Day. These important organisations are committed to helping increase respectful relationships across Australia, one social connection at a time.
Play Australia envisions a connected and healthy Australia where PLAY is a part of everyone’s daily life to enhance the health and wellbeing of children/young people and communities. They champion the 1000 Play Streets movement for Australians to reclaim their quiet residential streets as places for neighbours of all ages to connect and play. Find out more. Watch their 1000 Play Streets for healthy communities video here.
Good for the Hood is a social enterprise which empowers everyday people to be advocates for environmental change in their community. They believe every person can be inspired to create their own piece of good in their hood and help people take that next step to better care for people, place and planet. Find out more.
Little B.I.G. Foundation is on a mission to reduce loneliness, by inspiring communities to become better connected. Their vision is for a future where people enjoy kinder, happier and healthier lives and they believe it’s the little things that make a B.I.G. difference. Find out more. Little B.I.G. Foundation team pictured above.
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Social connection this holiday season
Fun in sun, long days lounging around, with the sounds of test cricket not quite warbling in the background. Christmas time can also be stressful and anxiety-provoking - and some people may choose to opt out. Relationships Australia NSW has produced a helpful blog with Christmas time hints and tips to make the season truly jolly - whatever you decide to do. You can read it here.
Being involved in multiple social groups has been positively associated with mental wellbeing. This occurs in part due to greater perceived access to support from family and friends and reduced loneliness. Positive sources of group connection include neighbourhood groups – so why not take this opportunity to connect with those in your neighbourhood?
Here are a few simple tips to get you started on the social connection path. Check out our 5 steps to being neighbourly here.
Or perhaps jump online.
Have you heard about the Disability Club, the NEW social media network for the disability sector? The club is inclusive, and everyone is welcome to sign up to become a part of this great new network. Find out more.
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Get support
Strong, inclusive and compassionate communities need support both in good times and challenging times.
There are many community support organisations and resources available online, at the end of a phone, or in your neighbourhoods that can help.
You can find them here.
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How can I help?
With so many challenges in the world right now, it can be hard to know how you can help.
To help individuals to make a difference, Pro Bono News has launched How Can I Help? A podcast for people who want to help, but don’t know where to start.
The six-part series features conversations with people with lived experience and experts in the field on what we can do to help in situations that we might encounter at some point in our lives. Whether that’s when you see someone sleeping rough, if you think a friend or colleague is in an abusive relationship, or if a family member is suffering from depression.
In episode one, the podcast looks at what you can do if you see someone sleeping rough.
Find out more here. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.
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As we move into the festive season, let’s pause and reflect on how our relationships have been affected by the global pandemic. Let’s learn together and acknowledge the importance of building and nurturing respectful relationships, while we explore some of the longer-term impacts of COVID.
Regardless of where you live, who you are, if you’ve lived in areas of lockdown or if you’ve lived in areas with more freedoms, your experience and your voice matters and we’d love for you to participate in our international study and share in the Australian story.
Relationships Australia is partnering with Griffith University in Australia, as well as Relate UK and the University of Worcester UK as part of this important international research. We’ve entered phase 2 of the research and want to ensure all Australians have the opportunity to share their experience, and to have the Australian experience strongly represented in the research.
Please lend your voice and participate in Families Un-locked here - and if you can, please encourage those around you to participate as well.
Your voice matters.
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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.
December 15 Chocolate and Coffee Day for Religious Harmony
"Let's talk about that over coffee," is a common phrase in our society. It is something people do from all walks of life, all backgrounds, cultures and religions. It is a way that people connect, learn about each other and find common ground. Wherever you may be, with your friends, families, workmates, groups or organisation, share together and start the conversation.
December 25 Christmas Day
For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Historically, Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion.
December 26 Boxing Day
December 31 New Year’s Eve
January 26 Australia Day, Survival Day or Invasion Day, Day of Mourning. Not everyone sees this day as a day to celebrate. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make personal choices about the way in which they choose to think about, and engage with, the day, as do all Australians. You can find out more here.
January 27 Neighbour Day 2022 Tell Us Your Story Competition opens
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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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