Neighbourhood Houses across the Central Highlands region continue to do incredible work in creating social connections opportunities – Walking Groups in Clunes, Chatty Cafes and Community Lunches in Ballarat, Mending Days in Darley… to name a just a few. (It would be challenging to name them all!)
In fact, the social connections value of the 14 Neighbourhood Houses in our region is staggering – the 2022 Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Evaluation Survey conducted by Neighbourhood Houses Victoria tallied the combined value of Central Highlands Neighbourhood Houses for ‘Improved quality of life through social connection’ at $3,705,700.
And that’s just what we can measure – the real impact is would be significantly higher.
Our Wellbeing Scripts Systems Building Project wound up 6 months ago, but that same survey also demonstrates Wellbeing Scripts did it’s job – with an average of 14 social prescription known referrals received by Neighbourhood Houses each month. Anecdotally, this hasn’t dropped off in 2023 – if anything, Neighbourhood House Managers report this number is increasing.
So, if you have not yet signed up to your local neighbourhood house newsletter or social media page – now is the time to do it. Better yet, make time to visit, or arrange a time to discuss the health and wellbeing opportunities your local neighbourhood house can offer your patients in your clinic.