Volunteering Australia is proud to be named a Very Neighbourly Organisation by Relationships Australia in the lead up to Neighbour Day on Sunday 27 March.
Very Neighbourly Organisations (VNO) are organisations that uphold and promote the principles of Neighbour Day. These organisations are able and committed to helping increase respectful relationships across Australia, one social connection at a time.
Volunteering Australia holds a vision for strong, connected and resilient communities through volunteering. We understand the importance of being neighbourly, as research continues to demonstrate the mental health and wellbeing benefits of volunteering including combating social isolation and loneliness.
With Neighbour Day just a few days away, it is a good opportunity to reflect on how you connect with the community around you.
Join us in celebrating Neighbour Day by supporting events that assist and engage your communities or just reach out and say hello to a neighbour.
The principal aim of Neighbour Day is to increase positive and sustainable social connections between people and communities throughout Australia, whilst tackling the loneliness epidemic facing our nation.
Australians are renowned for being good neighbours. These past few years are a prime example of when crises hit our towns and suburbs, we are there to help our neighbours and those in our community that need support.
Together, Australians clean up after disasters from fires, floods and storms, they volunteer their time and resources and provide support and care wherever they can.
What we have seen recently from environmental emergencies is not just neighbours volunteering to help, but neighbours who care about their communities and each other.
What society has learned through COVID-19 is that social isolation and loneliness can affect anyone and that loneliness is a deep and foreboding feeling. Empathy grew from discovering what isolation and loneliness can do to the human psyche, to our friends and families and our neighbours.
As we reemerge from lockdowns and natural disasters:
- Let’s remember to keep checking in on our neighbours.
- Let’s reach out and say hello.
- Let’s assist and engage with our communities.
- Let’s tackle isolation and loneliness together.
