Creating Connections: Safe and Welcoming Community Spaces

Social connection is a key protective factor for mental health and wellbeing – it strengthens people’s sense of belonging, and fosters resilient communities and societies. Victoria is home to many places and spaces where people can experience connection. But are all of these spaces welcoming and inclusive?

NHVic has partnered with the Whittlesea Mental Health and Wellbeing Local Service (Neami National) to research effective practices in creating safer, welcoming and inclusive spaces for social connection. The research embeds the voices of people with lived/living experience of loneliness, social isolation and mental illness to understand barriers to participating in neighbourhood houses and community more broadly.

This project was funded by the Wellbeing Promotion Office in the Victorian Department of Health to support the emergence of social prescribing in Victoria, recognising the importance of welcoming and inclusive community spaces.

The project also supports Wellbeing in Victoria: A strategy to promote good mental health by the Victorian Department of Health. Inclusive and connected communities are two of eight key priorities in this Wellbeing Strategy.

See the report