As people who live and work in Mt Gravatt, Wishart, Mansfield and surrounding areas, we stand with the Member for Mansfield, Corrine McMillan MP to ask Minister O’Rourke to keep funding our innovative work to combat social isolation.
All of us know someone who is lonely and isolated!
- Jill hasn’t left the house in years except to see the Doctor or to pick up groceries. She feels like her front fence is a prison.
- Maria worries about young people in her community that struggle in school and find it hard to fit in.
- Peter worries about his neighbour that he hasn’t seen for weeks.
The Ways to Wellness Social Isolation Project is a social prescribing network that reaches the most lonely and vulnerable and connects them to a group and social support within the community. It was developed by our leaders across our community in 2018.
A “link worker” is based in our local Mt Gravatt Community Centre. Her name is Wendy. She walks side by side with people to build their confidence and make sure they have a place to belong.
The Ways to Wellness project is the first in Australia and has been based on a successful model in the United Kingdom. The Mt Gravatt project results speak for themselves. After only on year, 88% of participants have participated in a group in the community.
There have been referrals to over 80 local activities and groups including exercise classes, craft classes, music groups, the Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed, singing groups, seniors’ activities and social groups!
This project matters to all of us. It is just finding its legs and starting to make a real difference.
The University of QLD has just received a grant from the Australian Research Council to properly evaluate the work over the next three years.
But Minister O'Rourke has not committed to continue funding our link worker.
We don't want to drop people in our community, just when they are starting to find their feet.
Time has run out. We have people now waiting for support and now it is time for the Minister to step in.
We stand with the Member for Mansfield, Corrine McMillan MP to ask the Minister for Communities, Coralee O’Rourke to keep funding our 'Ways to Wellness Social Isolation Project."
