Social Isolation and Prescribing

Awareness of loneliness and social isolation as significant public health and wellbeing issues has increased in recent years, along with the development of targeted government and community support programs for affected Australians.

A collaboration with the Australian Disease Management  Association (ADMA), Bolton Clarke Research Institute, Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH), Melbourne School of Population & Global Health (MSPGH), Monash Partners, and the Western Alliance has developed an extensive network of stakeholders researching or developing programs of support for social isolation.

The 2022 webinar program will commence on Tuesday 3 May between 12pm and 1.15pm, and is free to access for employees of Western Alliance member organisations. The webinar program will include a mix of research findings from trials and services that have been implemented, as well as opportunities to collate what is being done across Australia and liaise with others working or interested in this area.

Presentations will include:

• Dr Carolyn Wallace, General Manager, Merrihealth and previously Swinburne University: Collaboration with community connectors to improve primary care access for hardly reached people: a case comparison of rural Ireland and Australia  
• Dr JR Baker, CEO Primary & Community Care Services Limited: Social Prescribing programs at PCCS in NSW and QLD 
• Loretta Stumer, Wellbeing Coordinator and Link Worker, Ways to Wellness Mt Gravatt Community Centre QLD: Ways to Wellness: A whole of community approach to addressing social isolation and loneliness through a Social Prescribing network
• Brendan O’Connell, Director, and Stefanie Poole, Founder of Kindred Clubhouse Inc. Hastings VIC : Social Connection and Purpose – Clubhouse model for people with Complex Mental Health conditions 

Please register in advance at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TY1bXQb9R7-FbSJw9P6mDw