Very Neighbourly Organisations

Neighbours take time to check in with people who might not be doing so well.

Check out R U OK?’s tips on how to start a conversation with your neighbour.

A stranger’s just a friend you haven’t met, right? The more neighbours you know, the more mates you’ll have to reach out to for fun times (and in tough times). Check out ReachOut.com’s tips on starting a convo with someone you don’t know.

Conservation Volunteers – Volunteering is a great way to meet the neighbours, support healthy communities and have fun. Find out how you can be involved with Conservation Volunteers Australia.

Connecting newly arrived and established Australians over a potluck meal in a local home. To join as a host or participant, register here.

Welcoming Australia is a non-partisan movement and organisation committed to cultivating a culture of welcome and advancing an Australia where people of all backgrounds have equal opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive.

Sing Australia accepts that everyone can sing and it makes no judgement on how well that happens.

It is inclusive and welcoming of everyone, with singing groups meeting weekly across Australia and performing at community events.
Find out more…

Orange Sky provides a platform for every day Australians to connect through a regular laundry and shower service. The focus is on creating a safe, positive and supportive environment for people who are too often ignored or who feel disconnected from the community.  Their volunteers are not social workers or experts on homelessness – they are empathetic listeners and great conversationalists.

 

SBS celebrates diversity and contributes to the social inclusion and cross-cultural understanding of all Australians – linguistically, sociologically and culturally.
A national broadcaster of multicultural and multilingual programming in over 100 languages; SBS has more than 7 million viewers each week in neighbourhoods and communities across Australia.
Read more about SBS here

Garage Sale Trail is a free festival of over 15,000 garage sales, powered by 150 local councils and the people of Australia.
You can declutter, fundraise, meet a few locals, find treasure and have a whole lotta fun! Get involved!

As the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, a key part of NAPCAN’s work involves promoting the message that children are safer and happier in communities that are socially cohesive and where everyone understands the positive role they can play in protecting children.www.napcan.org.au

Neighbourhood Watch Australasia (NHWA) is the overarching organisation of member Neighbourhood Watch programs in Australia and Neighbourhood Support in New Zealand.
NHWA facilitates and supports local community groups in achieving safer, connected and more inclusive neighbourhoods. Enquire today.

Thread Together delivers new, good quality clothing and shoes to people in our community who are doing it tough. They help restore dignity and hope for men, women and children who are going through a difficult time by providing the opportunity to choose a complete wardrobe of new clothes, at no cost.

Neighbourhood Connect is a national community organisation and charity which helps people across Australia create neighbourhood groups to encourage happier, safer and more connected communities. Because life is better when we belong.

Nextdoor is the neighbourhood hub for trusted connections and the exchange of helpful information, goods, and services. Nextdoor’s mission is to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighbourhood to rely on.

Playgroup Australia’s vision is creating a village through play – celebrating and connecting all families and caregivers of children from pre-birth to age 5. Together with their member playgroup organisations, Playgroup Australia represents one of Australia’s largest social movements – fostering relationships between over 100,000 playgroup families nationally.

Feros Care is all about enabling bold lives; happier, healthier, more connected. Their major initiative, Be Someone For Someone is pivotal to this, especially focussed on tackling the loneliness epidemic by creating opportunities for everyone in the community to build and enjoy meaningful, lasting connections.

Lendlease is committed to providing places that are welcoming, foster a sense of connection and inspire residents to thrive and invest in their communities. By putting people at the heart of the places they create, they prioritise safety, inclusivity and making people feel like they belong.

Since 1928 the Country Women’s Association of Victoria has worked to improve social conditions in rural and urban areas, particularly supporting women and children.  The Country Women’s Association of Victoria is a place for friendship and personal development.

Being active, having a sense of belonging and a purpose in life all contribute to happiness and good mental health.  Check out the Act Belong Commit website for tips and a quiz to rate your involvement in mentally healthy activities and find activities in your area (WA only).

Getting young people active in life. Developing skills, character and leadership. Supporting safe and healthy neighbourhoods in NSW.    Click here to find the nearest club in your neighbourhood.

Befriend is a Perth-based social enterprise with a vision of an inclusive, connected world. The Befriend Social Network connects people from diverse backgrounds through inclusive social gatherings and events of all shapes and sizes. Click for more info.

Housing Choices Tasmania is a not-for-profit organisation working closely with residents, local business, service providers and the general community to support inclusive communities and thriving neighbourhoods. Click here to find out more.

CJC’s free mediation service helps neighbours and community groups to build and strengthen relationships by assisting them to problem-solve and cooperate when dealing with disputes and other challenges. As part of the NSW Department of Justice, CJC is contributing to more harmonious neighbourhoods.

Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland (MIFQ) provides specialist community mental health support to people living with mental illness, families, carers and workplaces across metropolitan, regional and rural Queensland. Click here for more information.

The NSW Elder Abuse Helpline & Resource Unit provides information, support and referrals; is confidential, and callers remain anonymous. The Helpline believes in the power of community – many older people across NSW are assisted, thanks to concerned neighbours who call the Helpline.

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland is a not-for-profit organisation advancing the rights, needs and futures of people as they age. COTA helps create a more just, equitable and caring community in which older people are actively involved, with access to appropriate support, services and care.
www.cotaqld.org.au

Nature Play QLD works innovatively and collaboratively to make outdoor free play a normal part every child’s life in Queensland, so that they can develop into resilient, healthy and creative members of the community.

The Queensland Families and Communities Association supports local Neighbourhood and Community Centres across the state, to foster social connections, reduce social isolation and conduct local place-based community development.

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) is a volunteer-based emergency service providing essential emergency assistance to thousands of Victorians every year. To minimise the impact of emergencies when they occur and strengthen the community’s capacity to recover swiftly and safely, VICSES focuses on working with communities and partners in building resilience to achieve more aware, informed and prepared communities.

Whiddon is an award-winning aged care provider who has been caring for older Australians across regional, rural and remote NSW and QLD for more than 70 years. They actively promote and maintain a proud sense of community – wherever they are, everyone matters.

CFA is a volunteer and community-based fire emergency services organisation. They help to protect 3.3 million Victorians, and more than one million homes and properties across the state. They are committed to working closely with communities to help them become stronger, more connected and prepared in the face of an emergency.

 

 

Sustainable Neighbourhood groups work together with neighbours to care for the natural environment, encourage sustainability, and foster resilient and caring communities. The Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance supports over 15 groups in Lake Macquarie, NSW.

The City of Albany (WA)  encourages everyone to get to know their neighbours so they feel safe and connected to their communities. Click here to find out how you can be involved this Neighbour Day.

Brimbank City Council supports Neighbour Day as it helps us create a welcoming community where everyone feels safe, connected and there’s strong relationships between neighbours. Click to find out more.

Monash is a culturally diverse community in Melbourne’s south-east suburbs, a place that welcomes people of different faiths, traditions and cultures. The Council plays a role in bringing people together .

Shellharbour City Council celebrates good neighbours and good relationships to promote and encourage social connection within local communities. Annually they host Good Neighbour Awards and events where residents are encouraged to recognise and celebrate their neighbours within Shellharbour City.

The City of Cockburn (WA) creates opportunities for the Cockburn community to get to know their neighbours and build strong, vibrant and connected communities. They Celebrate Cockburn and Neighbour Day each year in creative ways and encourage residents to identify what they love about their city.

Sunbury Community Health are passionately engaged with people to support each other and build community.They focus on the factors that actually predict whether someone is healthy, like strong families and social cohesion.

A community is stronger when everyone finds belonging.

Lane Cove Council wants neighbours to love where they live so they’ve created resources and events to celebrate the ‘village feel’ that makes Lane Cove a great place to live, work and play. Feel free to drop by and take a look at what they’re up to…  

The City of South Perth encourages community development through the Streets Alive program – supporting residents to host street gatherings with their neighbours. Streets Alive is about growing community spirit and social inclusion, one street at a time. Get involved. southperth.wa.gov.au 

The City of Kwinana encourages its community to celebrate their neighbourhoods through their Annual Neighbour Day Funding and Community Event Fund. They work closely with those who live, work and recreate within Kwinana to foster welcoming neighbourhoods that create a sense of community pride and belonging.

Tweed Shire Council looks after people and places. They aim to make a difference so that the Tweed community is even better tomorrow than it is today.

The City of Subiaco is a unique and welcoming destination that celebrates its rich history, while embracing diversity and vitality in our future.
The city is passionate about making stronger and more resilient community and does this through a variety of community programs.

In a world where homelessness and housing crisis exist, Haven; Home, Safe connect people with housing options and integrated supports so that they can find and keep a place to call home.

Inner West Tool Library is a not for profit, 100% volunteer-run community organisation that brings together the idea of sharing as a way to reduce waste, save people money and space, and help build a more connected and resilient community.

One of the most diverse cities in Australia, Liverpool is home to residents of different cultures, histories and experiences.

Liverpool City Council celebrates the City’s rich Aboriginal heritage; and encourages all community members to know, understand and respect their fellow residents.

Not feeling at home yet? Join us at Key Into Australia, a network of multicultural women. They are a supportive community that helps create friendships, find work and navigate the ups and downs of settling in a new neighbourhood.

The City of Wanneroo is a vibrant, welcoming place to live, work and visit. It is home to a diverse multi-cultural community which is passionate about fostering neighbourhood connections and building better relationships between people.