Service Summary | Living Our Best Life
Published:
Location:
Outer Eastern Suburbs of MelbourneService Status:
OngoingBrief Summary:
Living Our Best Life in the City of Knox a partnership between the Community Houses Association of the Outer-eastern Suburbs (CHAOS), Temple Society Australia and the five Neighbourhood Houses to provide the role of volunteers as community connectors (link workers) to support a formal referral system. The model has been inspired by the work of Mendip Health Connections and Bromley By Bow Centre in the UK.
The Knox project, Living our Best Life, includes trialling the role of volunteers as community connectors (link workers) to support a formal referral system. volunteer Community
Connectors are supporting individuals referred by Health Practitioners to join in community activities. They are assisting participants to learn about their choices, providing introductions to community agencies, and where necessary, accompanying the participant for their first visit to ensure that they feel supported and confident.
A community mapping exercise resulted in the development of an online directory of services and support in the City of Knox. This will be the main tool for Community Connectors to identify potential activities and services for their participants.
The project also includes a Talking Café. This weekly event enables people to drop in to a local cafe and find out about how to join in community activities and chat to volunteers
about what’s happening in Knox.
Who is this for?
People aged 65 and over who are socially isolated, lonely or at risk of social isolation
Results/Outcomes:
Project Report can be found at Living Our Best Life – CHAOS (Community Houses Association of the Outer Eastern Suburbs) (chaosnetwork.org.au)
A 2024 update report can be found at CHAOS-LOBL-Project-Report-2024-Update.pdf (livingourbestlife.org.au)