Welcome to the Uniting Communities Overcoming Loneliness monthly e-news. We’ll keep you up to date with the latest news about loneliness initiatives, research, innovative case studies and data.
If you have a story to share about how your work or organisation is overcoming loneliness, please contact us at advocacy@unitingcommunities.org
South Australia
Free workshop: Developing social prescribing
Looking for practical ways to support connection and reduce loneliness in your community? This free workshop will explore how social prescribing can link people with local activities and services to help meet non‑medical needs.
🗓 Wednesday 3 June 2026
🕥 10.30am–1.00pm (lunch included)
📍 Port Adelaide (venue TBA)
Facilitated by Dr Candice Oster (Flinders University), the session builds on the ACDC Project in Salisbury and marks the launch of ACDC activities in Port Adelaide Enfield for 2026–2027.
From little things: Partner spotlight on Spark
Spark continues to show how small, intentional actions can lead to meaningful connection.
Over the past 18 months, Spark has combined expert guidance with grassroots community effort to help foster a culture of belonging.
While the approach is purposeful, the connections formed are organic—growing naturally through shared stories, relationships, and community participation.
Recent reflections from participants highlight how these everyday moments of connection can create lasting impact.
Australia
Loneliness Awareness Week 2026 announced
Ending Loneliness Together has announced that Loneliness Awareness Week 2026 will be held from 3–9 August 2026.
The theme, Make Room, encourages people to create space for connection in everyday life—across communities, workplaces, schools, and relationships.
The campaign will focus on all ages, with particular attention on individuals and organisations that help facilitate meaningful social connection.
More resources and opportunities to get involved will be released in the coming months.
Opportunity for young people with lived experience of loneliness
South Western Sydney Local Health District is seeking young people aged 18–24 to join the steering committee for Things I Wish I Knew: Creating Connections.
The project explores loneliness and connection through storytelling and photography, and invites participants to share their lived experience to help shape creative and research outputs. Remuneration is provided.
Young people in Bankstown and surrounding areas are particularly encouraged to apply.
International
Explore the State of the US Ecosystem
New resources mapping the US social isolation, loneliness and connection (SILC) ecosystem highlight growing awareness of the link between social connection, health and wellbeing—while also identifying a gap between attention and action.
The Ecosystem Map and accompanying report provide the most comprehensive snapshot to date of organisations and initiatives working across the US, and aim to inform research, policy, funding priorities, and cross‑sector collaboration
Subscribe to the Overcoming Loneliness e-news
