Connect Up

The Health Research Institute (HRI) is currently co-designing the 'Connect Up' pilot project with and for people aged 18-30 in Bruce and Belconnen to help strengthen social connection. The first step is to hear from young people about what it’s like to live in these suburbs.

The pilot is targeted to the cohorts and areas of greatest need and potential benefit. Bruce and Belconnen have been selected for their high populations of young people aged 18-30 – an age group which, according to the HRI’s latest Living Well in the ACT Region survey, are the most likely to be socially disconnected in the ACT.

The first stage of the program will involve local young people, services and organisations in developing a model of how community ‘Connect Workers’ might initiate or link into activities and programs in these suburbs to help make or strengthen social connections for young people. This will take the form of a Working Group, community consultations and co-design workshops.  

Through this we’ll ensure that the voices, lived experience and knowledge of local young people and relevant stakeholders informs the development, rollout and evaluation of the pilot. The consultation will explore how and where community ‘Connect Workers’ might operate and the programs or activities they might link into or create to align with the needs and interests of people aged 18-30 who live in Belconnen and Bruce.

If you’d like to take part in the consultation you can:

• Register for discussion groups
• Book in for an interview
• Complete a short online survey

This project is funded through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).  For more information contact us on: ConnectUpBelco@canberra.edu.au

• Rachel Davey
• Barbara Walsh