Minister for Communities, Coralee O'Rourke: Keep Funding our 'Ways to Wellness Social Isolation Project'

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."

Who's signing

Carmel Schneider
David Baker
Rita Markwell
Sue Hutchinson
Mel Wheeley
Neha Nadeem
Deanne Ramsden
Len Turner
Sultana Deen
Kim Ramsdale
Dina Ghaznavi
Lexi Marr
Melissa Hutchinson
Ian Park
Jen Pitt
kat Bhathena
Sarah McGuire
Paulette Dupuy
Cindy Mclauchlan
Sue Ganley
Sam Millbank
Kylie Higgins
Moya Hughes
Olivia Chinnery
Stephanie Foran
Belinda Chinnery
Emma Nicholls
Penny Allen
Emily Richardson
Tim Allen
482 signatures

Will you sign?

Showing 332 reactions

  • Carmel Schneider
    signed via 2020-02-14 12:33:40 +1000
  • David Baker
    signed 2020-02-14 12:23:09 +1000
  • Rita Markwell
    signed 2020-02-14 11:21:38 +1000
  • Sue Hutchinson
    signed 2020-02-14 10:35:39 +1000
    This is important work, addressing such key issues in our communities. Please provide ongoing funding for this project!
  • Mel Wheeley
    signed 2020-02-14 09:11:54 +1000
  • Neha Nadeem
    signed 2020-02-14 08:56:14 +1000
  • Deanne Ramsden
    signed 2020-02-14 08:40:20 +1000
  • Len Turner
    signed 2020-02-14 08:04:02 +1000
  • Sultana Deen
    signed 2020-02-14 08:02:38 +1000
    Sultana Deen
  • Kim Ramsdale
    signed 2020-02-14 07:49:54 +1000
  • Dina Ghaznavi
    signed 2020-02-14 06:11:42 +1000
  • Lexi Marr
    signed 2020-02-14 05:25:26 +1000
    Services like this are vital to to the function and wellness of the community.
  • Melissa Hutchinson
    signed 2020-02-14 04:38:43 +1000
  • Ian Park
    signed 2020-02-13 23:11:13 +1000
  • Jen Pitt
    signed 2020-02-13 23:00:44 +1000
  • kat Bhathena
    signed 2020-02-13 21:57:52 +1000
    This initiative is an incredible and essential one – Group61Companions has received many referrals of lonely and isolated seniors in the community and is proud to be able to work with Ways to Wellness to support people to feel connected, cared for and valued.
  • Sarah McGuire
    signed 2020-02-13 21:44:12 +1000
  • Paulette Dupuy
    signed 2020-02-13 21:22:58 +1000
  • Cindy Mclauchlan
    signed 2020-02-13 21:07:19 +1000
  • Sue Ganley
    signed 2020-02-13 20:05:31 +1000
  • Sam Millbank
    signed 2020-02-13 19:03:45 +1000
  • Kylie Higgins
    signed 2020-02-13 17:59:44 +1000
  • Moya Hughes
    signed 2020-02-13 17:36:47 +1000
  • Olivia Chinnery
    signed 2020-02-13 17:33:37 +1000
  • Stephanie Foran
    signed 2020-02-13 17:30:45 +1000
  • Belinda Chinnery
    signed 2020-02-13 17:20:34 +1000
  • Emma Nicholls
    signed 2020-02-13 17:18:18 +1000
  • Penny Allen
    signed 2020-02-13 17:10:55 +1000
  • Emily Richardson
    signed 2020-02-13 17:07:39 +1000
  • Tim Allen
    signed 2020-02-13 17:05:33 +1000