Volunteers in Melbourne’s outer suburbs combat loneliness and promote community connection

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Loneliness can negatively impact a person's mental and physical wellbeing. In Melbourne's outer suburbs, volunteers are taking the lead to keep their communities feeling connected.

Transcript

00:00On the face of it, it's an unassuming coffee catch up in Melbourne's Outer North, but this

00:11open invite women's social group is the creation of one dedicated volunteer.

00:16It's just amazing, I don't even want to get paid for doing it, it's just so nice.

00:23Gay came across many lonely people in her former life working in aged care.

00:28You go there and visit once a week usually, and they just can't get over it when you go

00:33there, they're just so excited.

00:34Some start crying because they haven't seen anyone for a week.

00:37It's just so, you know, it makes you cry, it's so sad.

00:40She started her weekly coffee club in an attempt to help women like her stay connected.

00:45I was lonely, I lost my husband, and I just needed someone to go out with.

00:52It's a blessing, and they are so friendly, we have laughs, we have jokes.

00:57Gay is not the only one concerned about growing social isolation.

01:01Craigie Byrne's Deputy Mayor says it often came up on the hustings during the recent

01:06local election.

01:07Our door knocked something like 6,000 homes, and it was really surprising how many people

01:11were coming to us, inviting us into our homes for a coffee, telling us stories about how

01:15they lost a partner, how their children weren't seeing them.

01:19At this community centre in Micklem, another volunteer is doing her best to keep migrants

01:25connected.

01:26She knows how hard it can be.

01:28When Gurdeep first came to Australia, she experienced it too.

01:32I was not sure how to make friends here.

01:37She hopes the monthly meetings are creating a network where attendees can ask for help.

01:43And ending the meeting on a high note, to help foster the culture of connection.

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