“Community for Everyone” is an exciting, new project designed to bridge the gap between people with and without disability by connecting volunteer social connectors with people with intellectual disability who share similar interests. The project aims to foster belonging, enrich lives and strengthen inclusion in our community.
This project is a game changer. Since the NDIS was launched, we’ve learnt that money is not enough. Money can’t buy you love – and it’s love that makes the world go ‘round. We know that too many people with NDIS packages remain profoundly lonely. We also know that most of the disadvantage people experience comes not from their disability but from their isolation. We believe the ultimate success of the NDIS lies in fostering freely given relationships and community connections. By strengthening personal networks, we can build a safer, more inclusive Hunter where everyone belongs.
To foster belonging by building freely given relationships. We all need people in our lives who aren’t paid to be there.
These relationships provide powerful safeguards against loneliness, exclusion, and social isolation.
This project addresses a significant gap in evidence about strategies for building and maintaining social connections for people with intellectual disability who have no access to any unpaid supporters. By nurturing freely given relationships and promoting community connections, the project will demonstrate how to establish social networks for people who are socially isolated. An external evaluation led by people with intellectual disability will contribute to the evidence.
The project will be co-designed by people with intellectual disability, ensuring lived experience shapes our approach.
Our skilled team, including people with intellectual disability and people with expertise in community development and advocacy, will provide comprehensive training and support for all volunteer social connectors.
This exciting project is a partnership between Side By Side Advocacy and Hunter Circles. Our project, funded for 2 years by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, will run until June 2026.
Hunter Circles will be running the project in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. We are thrilled to bring this opportunity to the Hunter and would love to invite you to be a part of it. Do yourself a favour and get involved.
There are lots of ways that you can get involved if you want to contribute to building a more inclusive Hunter Community.
People with intellectual disability are often excluded from community life. Many people are socially isolated and have no access to any unpaid supporters or relationships. Their personal networks are often made up of paid staff, other people with intellectual disability and family members.
This project introduces a new role called a volunteer social connector to help bridge this gap. Volunteers will form close relationships with people, supporting them to expand their social circles and get involved in community activities like art, sports, music and cultural events. By regularly meeting and socialising together, we aim to make it easier for people with disability to connect with community life.
Research shows that having someone dedicated to building social networks is really helpful, but it requires ongoing support. We’re launching in Ryde and Parramatta with Side By Side Advocacy, and in the Hunter region with Hunter Circles. These areas were chosen because people have transitioned from large institutions to group homes, and we know there’s a strong need for community engagement to prevent people from being further excluded.
People do better when they experience, like all other citizens, the good things in life. The potential impacts are huge, for people and for communities:
Yes! Hunter Circles is always seeking people with skills and interests that can contribute to the work of the organisation. https://www.huntercircles.org/get-involved/ to get involved page
If you would like to make your contribution by building a relationship with a person with intellectual disability, you could consider becoming a Circle member. This takes a commitment of around 4 hours each month. It’s a fantastic way to share your interests, skills and networks to make a difference in our community, in your own life and in the life of a fellow citizen. Contact us if you to become a Circle member.
Apart from contributing your time, we are always grateful for financial contributions. There is never enough funding to reach all of the people who would benefit from our support. Your financial contribution can assist us to reach more people. You can donate via our website or contact us.
Side By Side Advocacy is the lead organisation running the project. Side By Side Advocacy is a not-for-profit advocacy organisation based in Parramatta. Side By Side Advocacy started more than 30 years ago and specialise in advocacy for people with intellectual disability. Their vision is a world where all people are equal and valued. Check out their website to learn more about their work.
If you would like to get involved with the Community For Everyone project in Parramatta and Ryde, you can contact Side By Side Advocacy:
Email: info@sidebysideadvocacy.org.au
Phone: 02 9808 5500
There is no justice in this country without First Nations justice.
We acknowledge that we live and work on the stolen lands of the Awabakal and Worimi people. We acknowledge Traditional Owners across the country and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded and we pay our respect to Elders past and present. This is, was and always will be Aboriginal land.
