Sydney Community Collaborative Publish Report Tackling Social Isolation Among Older Australians
Sydney, NSW — A coalition of five leading community organisations has released a landmark report addressing the growing crisis of social isolation and loneliness among older people in inner and south-eastern Sydney.
The Sydney Community Collaborative, comprising Inner Sydney Voice (ISV), Canterbury City Community Centre (4Cs), Ethnic Community Services (ECS), Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (NNC), and The Junction Neighbourhood Centre (JNC), commissioned researchers Dr Michael Fine and Dr Bob Davidson to produce the Older and Connected report in response to increasing requests for support from older people experiencing isolation.
The report reveals that while loneliness affects all age groups, older Australians remain a distinct and vulnerable population. It highlights the urgent need for community-led, place-based interventions to build stronger social connections and reduce reliance on costly aged care and health services.
“This report is a call to action,” said Marika Kontellis, speaking on behalf of the Collaborative. “It shows that small, local efforts, when properly supported, can have a profound impact on the wellbeing of older people and the sustainability of our care systems.”
Key findings include:
• The growth of social isolation and loneliness has wide-reaching effects on individuals, health systems, and society, causing harm to mental and physical health, weakening social cohesion, and increasing financial pressures on governments and families.
• Improving local social connections can delay or reduce the need for costly health and aged care services.
• Local and neighbourhood-level action is critical, supported by coordinated systems and resources from all levels of government.
• Action is needed on two fronts:
Strengthen entry-level aged care services (CHSP), which play a vital role in maintaining social connection but have been weakened by recent reforms.
Build local ecosystems of support for the 70% of older people not in the formal aged care system.
• Local community organisations are central to this effort, offering the infrastructure, trust, and expertise needed to reach older people effectively.
• Investment in these approaches can generate substantial savings by reducing demand for intensive care services.
The Older and Connected report outlines a practical framework for building local ecosystems of support, including outreach, social prescribing, group activities, and neighbourhood hubs.
Download the report:
For further information or to arrange an interview with a Sydney Community Collaborative spokesperson, please contact:
Joseph Ferrer: E: [email protected] P: 02 9698 7690 M: 0418 418 634
About the Sydney Community Collaborative
The Sydney Community Collaborative is a partnership of five long-standing, community-based organisations working together to address social isolation and loneliness among older people in Sydney. The Collaborative was formed in 2023 to advocate for inclusive, locally driven solutions to one of Australia’s most pressing social challenges.