Department of Health

Local Connections – a social prescribing initiative in the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals (Local Services) aims to support people to engage in non-clinical community-based activities, such as art, creative, nature or other groups and activities, to reduce loneliness and social isolation.

Local Connections aim to strengthen pathways between mental health and wellbeing services and community initiatives and activities, to reduce loneliness and social isolation.

Carers and consumers may access Local Connections at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals. Older Victorians will be a priority group for the trials.

Link workers will help to connect people experiencing isolation and loneliness with community activities and initiatives. For example, arts and creative activities, outdoor activities or volunteering.

What we are doing

Local Connections – a social prescribing initiative has commenced in the first six Local Services. Local Connections can be accessed in the Frankston, Latrobe and Benalla-Wangaratta-Mansfield, Brimbank, Geelong-Queenscliffe and Whittlesea Local Services.

Link workers employed by Local Services will support people to engage in local community-based activities.

People may self-refer or be referred to Local Connections via the Local Services. Further information can be found in the local connections fact sheet.

The Local Connections model in Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals

Local Connections – a social prescribing initiative was co-designed by people with lived and living experience of psychological distress, mental illness and addiction, including carers, families and supporters.

Co-design partners designed the experience of social prescribing in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals and the role of the link worker, including the qualities, responsibilities and experiences required of the role. The Wellbeing Promotion Office worked with strategic design agency, Today, to undertake this co-design process.

The Wellbeing Promotion Office thanks our co-design partners for their work on this project.

Find out more

Have questions or want to learn more about a project? Email the Wellbeing Promotion Office at mhwpo@health.vic.gov.au.

Reviewed 18 September 2023

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