Staying connected to our community is important in these times of stress and change. Strong connection with our neighbours makes us feel better as it gives us support, a sense of solidarity and it’s just fun! Well-connected communities are better equipped to face and recover from crises, such as COVID-19.
Relationships Australia is the organiser of Neighbour Day, Australia’s annual celebration of community. With self-isolation and social distancing, it can be hard to maintain relationships with neighbours, let alone build new ones, but Neighbour Day has plenty of ideas on their website, www.neighbourday.org
If you are feeling disconnected from your community, Relationships Australia South Australia offers services that can help. You can find them here www.rasa.org.au/services/all-services.
Find out about our COVID-19 response here www.rasa.org.au/covid-19.
Keep connected with your community during COVID-19 by
- Dropping notes into your neighbours’ letter boxes, asking them to give you a ring
- Putting your kids drawing out on your front fence, and urge neighbours to do the same
- Joining online community interest groups, or starting your own
- Organising times when all neighbours sit in their front yards and have cups of tea from a safe distance
- Leaving artwork, notes or other messages attached to your fence or letterbox for people walking past – we’re in this together!
- Getting walkie talkies for you and your kids to chat with neighbouring families
- Checking-in with vulnerable neighbours and make sure they have everything they need
- Taking part in the bear hunt!
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the following, seek help early:
- Disagreement with your neighbours
- Feeling isolated and alone
- Help with feeling more connected
- Difficulty socialising or reaching out to others
- Estrangement from family or community due to sexual orientation, illness or other reasons
Telephone and online supports:
- Relationships Australia South Australia: 1300 364 277 or 1800 182 325 (country callers) rasa.org.au
- Legal Services Commission: 1300 366 424 (9am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday)
- Humankind (Support for Chronic Illness): humankind-relationships.com.au
- Indaba HIV (support for women living with HIV in SA): indabahiv.com.au
- PEACE Multicultural Services (CALD Support Services): rasa.org.au/peace
- QLife (LGBTI peer support): 1800 184 527 (3pm – midnight) org.au
- Neighbour Day: neighbourday.org
- Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 lifeline.org.au
Here are some useful links you might want to explore
- How to be a good neighbour
- For family, friends and neighbours
- 5 steps to being neighbourly
- Connection & Calling Cards
- SACOSS – peak body for the non-government health and community services sector in South Australia