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Every day is neighbour day

Special event days can be an effective way to shine a light on important issues, and to support and mobilise helpful actions in communities. These ‘official’ days celebrate and acknowledge the good that is happening every day; the organisations and people who are making a positive difference; and can be useful to encourage others to get involved. 
 
On 27 March 2022, Relationships Australia celebrated the anniversary of 20 years of Neighbour Day Connecting Communities. We took this opportunity to put the call out to the nation: to help address loneliness across Australia - and to build the communities you want to live in, one relationship at a time.
 
As our year-round social connection campaign, Neighbour Day supports and enables sustainable respectful relationships across communities. 
 
Now that the ‘official’ neighbourly dust has settled, in this edition, we look at what the other 364 days can look like – because every day is neighbour day.
   
So grab a cuppa and join us on your virtual Verandah.

What very neighbourly looks like 

Did you know that we have developed relationships with more than fifty organisations (and growing), whom we acknowledge on our website as Very Neighbourly Organisations (VNOs)?
 
They are a broad range of organisations working at national, state and territory, and regional and local levels - all with the common interest of social connection, inclusion and community.
 
A VNO can be a community, business or government organisation that upholds and promotes the principles of Neighbour Day. These important organisations are able and committed to helping increase respectful relationships across Australia, one social connection at a time. Find out more here.
 
If you want to know what very neighbourly looks like check out the VNOs here.
 
Check out this new video from Very Neighbourly Organisation Mentally Health WA’s – Act Belong Commit Campaign.  
 
Check out this new podcast from Very Neighbourly Organisation SBS ‘Love Me, Love My Anxiety.’    

Ambassadors - On being neighbourly  

Our Neighbour Day Ambassadors are much-loved members of our communities who support the principal aim of Neighbour Day, which is to build sustainable respectful relationships with the people around us.
 
Ambassadors generously help raise awareness of Neighbour Day and its messages about the importance of social inclusion and connection in communities around Australia – every day.  Find out more about our ambassadors here.
 
At the launch of Neighbour Day 2022 in Canberra, we were fortunate to have some of our Neighbour Day Ambassadors attend in person and others attend virtually. We asked them about why they are Ambassadors and about the importance of connection and community.
 
You can watch their short videos below.
 
Costa’s video   A wonderful opportunity...”
Mitch’s video    “We get 365 days to have a crack...”
Natalie’s video  “We share a lot of values…”
Hugh’s video     “Connecting with neighbours really matters…”
Sophie’s video   “A great way to connect is…”
 
Watch more videos here.

The other 364 days matter  

Neighbour Day has been and gone.
 
You smiled.   You said g’day.   Perhaps even hosted an event.
 
So what next?
 
The good news is that ‘every day is neighbour day’, so any and every day is a good time to try small (or big!) things: to reach out, connect and stay connected.
 
You can find helpful connection tips, ideas and free resources on the Neighbour Day website - which you can use every day.
 
We’ll also be updating some of our resources in the coming months to ‘Every day is neighbour day’ for use anytime that suits you and your neighbours!
 
Some people find it difficult to build relationships.
Try these 5 simple tips to establish respectful relationships with those around you.
 
Why not try out our NEW Connection Conversation Cards?
Free to download from individuals, workplaces, community organisations and councils pages
 
Whatever you chat about, just remember to be kind.

Connection & Support  

We know from a range of studies that helping others has both community and personal benefits.

Social connection makes us feel better as it helps prevent loneliness and isolation. Having good relationships with others increases general wellbeing and has a wider, positive impact on communities.
 
The groups listed on the website provide a variety of opportunities to join in, connect with others and if you’re up for it, to help out by volunteering. Your local council or govolunteer.com.au may also have ideas for you to get involved.
 
Strong, inclusive and compassionate communities need support both in the good times, and the 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. The organisations listed on the website provide some options for support.

Young people's voices matter 

Young people are important community members and neighbours.
 
Mission Australia’s Youth Survey 2022 is now open. Now in its 21st year, the Mission Australia Youth Survey is the largest online survey of its kind in Australia and provides an important annual snapshot into the experiences and views of young people aged 15-19.
 
For more information see the media release.
The survey can be taken at missionaustralia.com.au/youthsurvey
  
Please encourage the young people in your community to share their views. 

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.
 
April 2 – 1 May Ramadan - (also known as Ramadhan or Ramzan) is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a period of prayer, fasting, charity-giving and self-accountability for Muslims in Australia.

April 6-16          Nature Play Week - 12 days filled with events. Getting kids into nature. Creating a sense of wonder. Organised by organisations all over Victoria and beyond.

April 14              Vaisakhi (Baisakhi) – is the Hindu and Sikh solar new year. It is additionally a spring harvest festival for many Indians.

April 15              Good Friday - Many Christians around the world observe Good Friday on the Friday before Easter Sunday. It commemorates Jesus Christ's Passion, crucifixion, and death, which is told in the Christian Bible.

April 17               Easter Sunday - Many Christians celebrate Easter Sunday as the day of Jesus Christ's resurrection, and also, as a cultural holiday. Why Easter eggs? Eggs represent new life and rebirth, and it is thought that this ancient custom became a part of Easter celebrations. In the medieval period, eating eggs was forbidden during Lent (the 40 days before Easter), so on Easter Sunday, feasting on an egg was a real treat! 

April 22               Earth Day is a celebration of the environment we all share. It also acts as a day of conservation awareness.

April 25               Anzac Day has become more than a commemoration of the day ANZAC troops landed on the beach at Gallipoli in 1915, it is a day of remembrance for all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

April 28               Pay It Forward Day is a global initiative that exists to make a difference by creating a huge ripple of kindness felt across the world.

May 1-7               International Compost Awareness Week Australia (ICAW), is a week of activities, events and publicity to improve awareness of the importance of compost, a valuable organic resource and to promote compost use, knowledge and products. We can compost to help scrap carbon pollution by avoiding landfilling organic materials and helping to build healthier soils.

May 1 – 7           Motherloss Awareness Week is dedicated to recognising and acknowledging the impact of mother loss and raising awareness that Motherless Daughters Australia exists as a support network.
Motherless Daughters Australia is a national not for profit organisation that represents, informs, supports and connects women and girls whose mothers have died, to help navigate the everyday and life's key milestones.

May 2 – 8         National Family Day Care Week offers a chance for the family day care sector to unite and celebrate the amazing work of educators and approved services in shaping the lives of more than 142,400 children around the country.

May 4              International Star Wars Day -  May 4 is called Star Wars Day because of the popularity of a common pun spoken on this day. Since the phrase "May the Force be with you" is a famous quote often spoken in Star Wars films, fans commonly say "May the fourth be with you" on this day. A fun opportunity to connect!

May 8              Mother's Day is the annual celebration of mothers (and also those who do that role) and the hard work they do.

May 12            International Nurses Day Every year International Nurses Day is celebrated on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. It is a day to celebrate the role nurses play in the care of their communities.

May 14           World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is a global awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. People around the world take action and organise public events such as bird festivals, education programmes and birdwatching excursions to celebrate the day and to help raise awareness around a specific theme.

May 15 -21     National Families Week is a time to celebrate with your immediate family, make contact with your extended family and friends and share in the enjoyment of family activities within the wider community. It is a time to celebrate the meaning of family and to make the most of family time.

May 16 – 22   National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australia's largest annual celebration of volunteers. From Monday to Sunday, NVW will celebrate the significant contribution of Australia's almost six million volunteers. Each year these volunteers dedicate over 600 million hours to help others. Better together.

May 17           International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination (IDAHOBIT)  On this day, people all over Australia will stand against discrimination in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) mates, colleagues and families. Go rainbow on IDAHOBIT and use the day to publicly stand with the LGBTIQ community. It's the perfect opportunity for your school or workplace to start small changes that can make a big difference.
 
May 18          WOW Day is a day of recognition and appreciation where the dedicated work of State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers is celebrated across Australia. The focus of WOW Day is to encourage the community to show their support in a very simple but highly visible gesture by wearing the colour orange. This is the colour worn by SES volunteers.

May 22 - 28   National Palliative Care Week (NPCW), held from 22 – 28 May 2022, is Australia's largest annual awareness-raising initiative held to increase understanding of the many benefits of palliative care.

May 26         National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how Australians can all play a part in the healing process for the people and nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is also commemorated by Australians right around the country.
 
May 27 – June 3  National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is celebrated across Australia each year between 27 May and 3 June. The dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey-the anniversaries of the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision. 2022 theme - Be brave. Make change.

May 1-31      Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month is held during May each year to raise community awareness and promote a clear message that domestic and family violence will not be tolerated in our communities.

May 1-31      Mindful in May brings the benefits of meditation together with an opportunity to help bring clean water to those living in the developing world. Your donation and fundraising will be used by Charity Water in its mission to solve the water crisis.  

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.

/neighbourday
@NeighbourDay
neighbourday.org
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Copyright © 2022 Relationships Australia Inc, All rights reserved.


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