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A review of the application process uncovered the following statistics:<\/p>\n
THE City of Greater Geelong has launched its new Social Inclusion Action Group program with a community loneliness forum.<\/p>\n
Co-hosted by the city and Friends for Good, participants at last week’s event explored the drivers of loneliness and social isolation that are specific to our region.<\/p>\n
A quarter of the community reported feeling lonely in the Geelong Preventative Health Survey, with much higher levels for people with disability, young people, LGBTIQA+ individuals and single parents.<\/p>\n
This work will inform development of community-driven strategies and actions that will support social connection, reduce exclusion, and promote mental wellbeing in our region.<\/p>\n
Members were supported to attend the forum at Corio’s Korayn Birralee Family Centre with childcare, transport, quiet rooms, wheelchair access and other accessibility assistance offered to all participants.<\/p>\n
Fifty community members from across Greater Geelong were selected from 122 expressions of interest, covering 34 suburbs and representing priority groups experiencing higher levels of loneliness and social isolation.<\/p>\n
People with disabilities, younger people (16-25 years), single parents, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTQIA+ community members, older adults and culturally and linguistically diverse people were represented at the forum. This was to ensure perspectives were shared from groups in the community who are known to experience loneliness and social isolation at high levels.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A review of the application process uncovered the following statistics:<\/p>\n