The Local Government Association of South Australia’s Youth Centres and Loneliness project has moved from research into practical application.

Following the validation of a new youth loneliness scale with over 1,100 participants, the project is now developing a toolkit for councils to evaluate and strengthen youth spaces.

Peer researchers are continuing to work alongside local government to co‑design principles that embed youth voices into decision‑making.

The focus is now on turning evidence into action, helping local governments create youth centres that actively reduce isolation and build stronger social connections.

Find out more

The power of shared spaces

Working from home can be rewarding, but it may come with increased isolation. Adelaide Hills resident Andrea discovered a simple way to counter this: taking her laptop to a local café, where the gentle presence of others helps her stay focused and feel connected.

This approach, sometimes called body doubling, is increasingly recognised as a powerful tool for remote workers to boost productivity and wellbeing.

Spark’s CoWork Club builds on this idea, offering a welcoming space where people can work side by side, share energy, and enjoy a sense of community.

As Andrea notes, the initiative has been a game-changer, reminding us that small shifts in routine and community-led programs like Spark can make working from home far less isolating.

Read more

The Mental Health Coalition of South Australia’s Bridging the Gap project has revealed how loneliness and isolation are compounding mental health challenges in the City of Salisbury, particularly for older women and carers.

Women aged 65–74 reported regular loneliness yet had not been asked about their wellbeing by their GP, with limited transport adding to their disconnection.

Carers showed equally concerning results: a third rated their mental health as poor or very poor, while more than 70% did not know where to find support.

Many needed help weekly or even daily but faced barriers such as cost, time, and lack of respite.

The findings highlight loneliness as a critical health issue and call for investment in peer workers and community‑based solutions to meet unmet needs and strengthen belonging.

Read more

Friends for Good will host an online event on Thursday 30 July 2026 exploring the vital role of social connection and its links to emotional and physical health.

Under the theme The Mind‑Body Connection: Rethinking Loneliness for Whole‑Person Wellbeing, the organisers are inviting abstracts and expressions of interest from researchers, community organisations, government, students, and people with lived experience.

They are seeking bold ideas, engaging stories, and innovative approaches that show how programs, policy, research, and lived experience can come together to reduce loneliness and strengthen belonging.

It’s a chance to help build a more connected and socially healthy Australia, and to bring fresh perspectives to the conversation in 2026.

Get in contact

Researchers have released the world’s first health guidelines for tackling loneliness, stressing that social isolation increases the risk of early death by 30%—comparable to smoking.

The recommendations call for routine assessment of “social health” alongside physical health, and encourage investment in community connection, friendship-building, and supportive environments to counter what’s been dubbed a “friendship recession.”

These guidelines aim to give governments, health professionals, and communities practical tools to reduce loneliness and its serious health impacts.