Connections Program
Connections is a one-to-one social support program for people who are experiencing and/or are at risk of being socially isolated, or who are on a mental health recovery journey. There is no mental health diagnosis required to access the program.
Connections follows a strengths-based recovery-oriented model to reduce stigma associated with social isolation, mental ill-health and to increase positive self-perception. Our aim is to set up safe and supportive structured friendships enabling participants to reconnect with their broader community.
We carefully screen and train volunteer Friendship Mentors who work with Connections participants to deliver social support services.
We work in collaboration with our participants, volunteer Friendship Mentors, relevant health professionals, and family and/or friends to encourage participants to reconnect with their community and learn a new skill or engage in their own volunteering opportunity.
Matching Participants with Volunteer Friendship Mentors
We take care to match Friendship Mentors and Participants considering:
location
age
compatibility, interests, hobbies
other preferences
A guided introductory meeting allows the volunteer Friendship Mentor and participant to meet, share some information about each other and consider how they can work together to achieve goals identified by the participant. Volunteer Friendship Mentors and participants agree on regular meet-up times, activities or other ways to connect.
Become a Participant
We accept self-referrals, or you can be referred by a health professional, support worker, family member or friend.
To be eligible participants must:
be willing to commit 1-2 hours per fortnight for up to 12 months
be over the age of 18
be willing to reconnect with their community and identify goals for their own lives
Become a Friendship Mentor
Connections relies on its volunteer mentors and their great contribution to this program.
To be eligible volunteer mentors must:
be willing to commit 1-2 hours per fortnight over a 12 month period
be over the age of 18
have a current Working With Vulnerable People Card (or be willing to obtain one)
be willing to participate in community activities
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