Abstracts & Presentation Summaries - Department of Health

Socially marginalised and/or isolated and have unmet support needs.
No family support networks
Have poor living skills and difficulty in maintaining basic levels of self or
home care.
Poverty
Referral Source
Access to the project is via referrals from the Housing Support for the Aged Program
and the Community Connections Program.
Activity Types
In our opinion the activity type isn’t the most important aspect. What is really
important is creating a space where people can feel comfortable and have the
opportunity to take part in communication with each other. The worker acts as a
facilitator for this process, working with the group to determine what activities are
suitable and encouraging a friendly and safe environment.
Another important aspect of the group is the feeling of acceptance that comes from
being with peers that share a similar life experience, for example a drug or alcohol
addiction, imprisonment, loss of assets, no family supports etc. The focus is on
building relationships and ending isolation.
The client group is given the opportunity to help determine where they would like
their group to go to and the type of activities they would like to be involved with.
The sorts of activities that have taken place have been BBQ’s, trips to the Zoo,
Art Galleries, Community Gardens and Lunches at restaurants.
Program Philosophy
The program aims to work with socially isolated people and give them a time and
place to be with other people in a safe and enjoyable environment. To large extent
this program aims to combat loneliness and give people a sense of involvement in
activity. For some it will lead them to have the confidence to re-establish themselves
in a broader community.
Social and Health Benefits
“Social support and good social relations make an important contribution to health.
Social support helps give people the emotional and practical resources they need.
Belonging to a social network of communication and mutual obligation makes
people feel cared for loved esteemed and valued. This has a powerful protective
effect on health”. (The Solid Facts. Social Determinants of Health. 1998).
At Merri Housing Service we have also observed the benefits of the Social
Connections Activity Group and have found them to be extensive and varied. One of
the most obvious is the new friendships that have formed and that continue outside
of the Social Connections Activity Project. For people that have been socially isolated
for any length of time regular communication with new friends has profound effects;
from the way they groom themselves to their attendance to their health.
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