As we approach World Mental Health Day on 10 October, I find myself genuinely optimistic about Australia’s future. Not because the challenges facing our communities have diminished—they haven’t. With over 5.1 million people across the country reporting frequent loneliness, we’re facing a social connection crisis that touches every corner of our nation. But I’m optimistic […]

Guest Blog by Very Neighbourly Organisation Gather My Crew (7 October 2025) We’ve all had that moment. You see a neighbour who’s clearly going through something. Maybe they’ve just had a baby. Maybe someone in the house is unwell. Maybe they’re grieving. You want to help, but… what do you say? What if they don’t […]

When we talk about social connection, it’s easy to picture neighbours chatting over the fence or waving from their driveways. But at Neighbours Every Day, we know that building a more connected Australia takes more than individual acts — it needs a community-wide approach, where workplaces, councils, and local groups are all part of the […]

At the launch of Loneliness Awareness Week at Parliament House, Canberra, Professor John Pollaers OAM highlighted a critical paradox: despite unprecedented connectivity, loneliness is reaching epidemic levels across Australia. This isn’t merely a mental health issue—it’s a systemic problem costing $2.7 billion annually and undermining education, employment, and civic participation. He says we’ve confused digital […]

What if a key to stronger communities lies in staying open to those around us? Shakespeare’s enduring plays show us that meaningful connections happen when we listen to each other, even across our differences. In Coriolanus, Shakespeare presents a stubborn war hero who becomes preoccupied with destroying his own people as they clash over their […]