With nearly 1 in 3 South Australians feeling lonely, the DHS Community Connections Program is proudly sponsoring Loneliness Awareness Week this year, an initiative aiming a spotlight on the need to help people form meaningful social connections to bring an end to loneliness.

This week is Loneliness Awareness Week and the Community Connections Program is urging people who may feel isolated to reach out for support through programs like ‘Marion Mugs’.

Connecting over coffee

Marion Mugs is held at the MarionLIFE Community Centre, where people gather every Monday morning for conversation, companionship and coffee.

"As we seek to be led by community, our team loves that we’re able to support participants in continuing to shape this program from their own ideas about what helps them overcome loneliness and isolation. We’ve seen some wonderful friendships form that now extend into the local neighbourhood as well," says Leighton Boyd from MarionLife.

"Our volunteers really enjoy playing a part connecting people through this program, and they have a cuppa ready each week for anyone who would like to join!"

What research tells us about loneliness

Research revealed during 2024 Loneliness Awareness Week shows that:

• 27.7 per cent of South Australians experience persistent loneliness, which means they have felt lonely for at least 8 weeks at a time.
• Nearly 20 per cent experienced persistent social isolation, meaning they had infrequent social contact for at least 8 weeks at a time.
• This means that South Aussies are the second most socially isolated people in the country, after people living in the Northern Territory.

The newly published research report ‘Why we feel lonely — A Deep Dive into how different life circumstances contribute to persistent loneliness and social isolation’ also revealed that younger people between the ages of 18 and 24 are the loneliest, with 41.1 per cent of them being persistently lonely.

Loneliness is not the same as being alone (socially isolated) — you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely. That’s because loneliness relates more to the quality of our relationships, rather than the quantity.

Investing in programs that help tackle loneliness

DHS has invested in several community initiatives that are aimed at getting people more socially connected. These include investing $43 million in community centres, over $5.8 million in grant funding for social inclusion projects, and $37.3 million in extending the highly successful Community Connections program.

Community Connections supports people who are not eligible for mainstream programs such as NDIS and My Aged Care to establish and maintain meaningful social connections, supportive social networks and a sense of belonging.

About Loneliness Awareness Week

This Loneliness Awareness Week, which runs from 5 to 11 August, is focusing on normalising conversations about loneliness through real stories, encouraging all Australians to gain a better understanding of why we feel lonely, and most importantly, inviting us all to create a culture of connection so that all Australians live fulfilling lives.

Read more at the Loneliness Awareness Week website