Successful grant recipients - Round One

Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grant Program - Round One

In 2021, the NSW Government awarded $600,000 in funding for projects to reduce social isolation for seniors in Round One of the Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grant Program.

Twenty-six organisations received funding to deliver locally-driven projects, programs or activities that foster social inclusion for older people. You can find details of their projects below.

For more information on the grant program, please visit the main Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grant Program page.

For a list of successful Round Two and Round Three grant recipients please visit the Successful Grant Recipients - Round Two page. and Successful Grant Recipients- Round Three page.

3Bridges Community

CaLD Men Connected

Our project will deliver purposeful social connections and engagement for 50 men aged 65 years+ from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds living in the Inner West region. Our suite of recreational and educational fortnightly workshops will improve their overall health and wellbeing.

This project operates in Inner West, and targets the following priority groups:

• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness

For more information, please contact admin.carsspark@3bridges.org.au.

ACON

Living Older Visibly Engaged (LOVE) Club for LGBTQ+ Seniors Goes Regional

ACON's LOVE Club for LGBTQ+ seniors will expand beyond Sydney to the regions of NSW. The LOVE Club is a social connection and health promotion initiative addressing the need among sexuality and gender diverse communities. The LOVE Club will host local events utilising existing networks and groups involving seniors.

This project operates in Albury, Central Coast, Coffs Harbour, Kyogle, Lismore, Newcastle, Wagga Wagga and Wollongong, and targets the following priority groups:

• Seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness

For more information, please contact jmurray@acon.org.au.

Australian Foundation for Disability

Inviting Our Disadvantaged Seniors to Start Living and Be Included

Supporting our senior people with disabilities to engage with other people of their community, learn new internet and computer skills and for many learn basic English conversation skills in order to make new friends and learn new lifestyle skills. Our elderly people with disability are disengaged from their own communities

This project operates in Blacktown, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Hawkesbury, Inner West, Liverpool City, Parramatta, Penrith, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and Wollongong, and targets the following priority groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness
• Seniors who are carers

For more information, please contact info@afford.com.au.

Bathurst Regional Council

Creating Connections

Creating Connections provides an opportunity for a group of 25 isolated seniors to explore a variety of social activities offered in the region from chair yoga to continuing education.  During the program participants will also be provided with information on health and well-being for seniors from qualified providers.

This project operates in Bathurst, and targets the following priority groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
• Seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas
• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds

For more information, please contact council@bathurst.nsw.gov.au.

Bega Valley Shire Council

Words and Music: A Seniors Social

Words and Music is a 8 month program of monthly activity in the library comprising a book/theme discussion with a related musical performance, morning tea and transport to the library based on a curated theme each month.

This project operates in Bega Valley, and targets the following priority group:

• Seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas

For more information, please contact mjordan-jones@begavalley.nsw.gov.au.

Bridge Housing

The Golden Oldies Program

The Golden Oldies Program offers older social housing tenants living at our Elger Street complex in Glebe with the opportunity to participate in a range of recreational activities, including light exercise classes, board game nights and day trips, in order to connect with each other and build relationships.

This project operates in Sydney, and targets the following priority groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness

For more information, please contact S.Barclay@bridgehousing.org.au.

Clarence Valley Council (Clarence Regional Library)

Your Vintage Film Club

A monthly film club to help Seniors in the Clarence Valley and Bellingen Shire stay social and connected. Seniors can meet up at five libraries in the region each month to watch a film and enjoy a guided film discussion and afternoon tea. Seniors vote on the film each month.

This project operates in Bellingen and Clarence Valley, and targets the following priority group:

• Seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas

For more information, please contact kathryn.breward@clarence.nsw.gov.au.

Dance Health Alliance

DanceWell - Community Dance Classes for Seniors

DanceWell and DanceMoves are community dance programs created especially for seniors and people living with mobility issues such Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease or Arthritis. Each 60-minute class is led by a qualified Dance Health Alliance teacher and combines seated and standing movement sequences proving anyone can be a dancer regardless of age/ability.

This project operates in Lane Cove, North Sydney and Willoughby, and targets the following priority groups:

• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness

For more information, please contact info@dancehealthalliance.org.au.

Diabetes NSW & ACT

Beat-It In-Language

Beat-It in-Language is an 8-week program that uses exercise classes and education sessions to address social inclusion issues faced by older people who speak Mandarin. Each week it will bring together people with a common goal and shared experiences to foster social connections within a safe and culturally supportive environment.

This project operates in Blacktown, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Georges River, Hornsby, Inner West, North Sydney, Parramatta, Ryde, Strathfield and Sydney, and targets the following priority group:

• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds

For more information, please contact katiea@diabetesnsw.com.au.

Graceades Community Cottage

Graceades Indigenous Oldies

Older Indigenous men and women from the suburbs of Mt Druitt meet at the Graceades Fantasy Garden to plan Aboriginal Story-telling, Art, Dance, Culture and bush-tucker for the local kids in surrounding suburbs.  These elders come together to share their wisdom and knowledge with one-another, kids and young people.

This project operates in Blacktown, and targets the following priority group:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over

For more information, please contact gccott@bigpond.net.au.

Heartdancers

Rhythm is Life: Together We Move, Together We Connect

The project aims to increase social connectedness and improve the general wellbeing of older people living in Fairfield and Liverpool LGAs, through weekly safe, inclusive, age and culturally appropriate community dance and creative movement classes. Every 6-8 weeks a different culture will be explored through dance/movement, music, rhythm and storytelling.

This project operates in Fairfield and Liverpool City, and targets the following priority groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness

For more information, please contact deepa@heartdancers.org.au.

Holbrook & Walla Walla Meals & Social Support Services

Sconeversations

Scones and Conversations. Providing opportunities and connections to foster social inclusion. Social morning tea group discussing events of the day, topics of general interest and encouraging friendship. Providing opportunity to share concerns, feelings, achievements, and happiness.  Opportunity to form social connections through fellowship and shared interests. In Holbrook and Cucairn.

This project operates in Greater Hume, and targets the following priority groups:

• Seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness
• Seniors who are carers

For more information, please contact office@holbrookmealsonwheels.com.au.

Kingsgrove Community Aid Centre

Seniors Connect Coffee and Wellness Club

A program that supports seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities to connect and access activities in an appropriate venue enhancing their social skills and wellbeing. The Program entails activities that promote togetherness, reduce isolation, improve mental health and physical activity. A welcoming place to interact in a supported environment.

This project operates in Bayside, Canterbury-Bankstown and Georges River, and targets the following priority groups:

• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness

For more information, please contact anne@kcac.org.au.

Link Wentworth Housing

Age Well, Live Well - Social Support Clubs for Link Housing Residents

Link Housing will establish social support clubs for older residents. The clubs will meet weekly and participate in a range of productive social activities and receive support from local aged-care partners.

This project operates in Ryde, and targets the following priority group:

• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds

For more information, please contact Alice.Taylor@linkwentworth.org.au.

Lismore City Council (Lismore City Library)

Lismore Library Activity Hub

The Lismore Library will become a hub of activity for older people. There will be board games, jigsaws, gardening, podcasts and technology to be learnt. This project aims to bring older people together while they are doing things they love, and gaining new learning.

This project operates in Lismore.

For more information, please contact lucy.kinsley@rtrl.nsw.gov.au.

Lithgow City Council

Tovertafel ‘Magic Table’, Bringing People Together

Our project is to provide regular and on-going ‘Magic Table’, sessions for seniors in our community with dementia, working with Lithgow Dementia Alliance. The Tovertafel ‘Magic Table’ comes with games that provide social, physical and cognitive interaction which is beneficial to our seniors.

This project operates in Lithgow, and targets the following priority groups:

• Seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness

For more information, please contact sharon.lewis@lithgow.nsw.gov.au.

Liverpool City Council

Seniors on Tour

This project is aimed at reducing social isolation for seniors via digital discovery tours using introductory VR technology, curated by local tour guides. The project will generate interactivity, learning, and knowledge sharing, through a hands-on approach which enables participants to take home the experience to share with their family and friends.

This project operates in Liverpool City, and targets the following priority groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds

For more information, please contact newsomej@liverpool.nsw.gov.au.

Melkite Catholic Welfare Association

Let's Get Together

This project will operate over 9 months through 2021 and 2022 every two weeks and will include the Stepping On program together with fun outings around the Outer Sydney area to both National Parks/seaside and local clubs and two craft sessions.

This project operates in Blacktown, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool City, and targets the following priority group:

• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds

For more information, please contact welfare@melkite.org.au.

Mission Australia Housing

Active Senior Empowerment (ASE)

Targeting seniors across low socio-economic neighborhoods, delivering evidenced senior-tailored therapeutic community gardening projects, thereby reducing social isolation and loneliness post bushfires, floods and public health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Coffs Harbour and Bellingen LGAs.

This project operates in Bellingen and Coffs Harbour, and targets the following priority groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
• Seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas
• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness

For more information, please contact taylorje@missionaustralia.com.au.

Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation

Connecting Across Country - Elders Gatherings

This project will provide transport, facilitation and catering for a newly-founded Yaegl Elders Group to travel, meet and interact with Aboriginal elders from other communities. This experience is to allow communities to reconnect, share life stories and create understanding of life's hardships within Aboriginal communities with other groups.

This project operates in Ballina, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Kyogle, Lismore, Nambucca, Richmond Valley and Tweed, and targets the following priority group:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over

For more information, please contact mudyalaaboriginalcorporation@outlook.com.

NovaCare Community Services

Hungry for more

NovaCare and The Wholesome Collective will show consumers how to prepare nutritious meals with pantry staples and seasonal produce (without skimping on FLAVOUR). They will learn how to make delicious and nutritionally balanced meals to optimise their health and leave them feeling more confident and part of a community.

This project operates in Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Newcastle and Port Stephens, and targets the following priority groups:

• Seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness
• Seniors who are carers

For more information, please contact teresab@novacare.org.au.

Rotary Club of Ryde

D Caf Ryde

A weekly meeting over coffee for senior dementia sufferers and their carers, allowing for social interaction, mutual support and services provided by occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists to assist with mobility and cognition, with volunteer support from Rotarians.

This project operates in Ryde, and targets the following priority groups:

• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness
• Seniors who are carers

For more information, please contact johndodd@cluemail.com.

SCRAP (School Communities Recycling All Paper) Ltd

Senior Organic Gardening Team

SCRAP Ltd manages the Holsworthy Community Garden for all our community. This project aims to offer the beauty and peace of gardening to our seniors so they may undertake supported, healthy physical activity and enjoy social interactions safely in the open air, for up to 3 hours fortnightly.

This project operates in Liverpool City, and targets the following priority groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
• Seniors who are carers

For more information, please contact support@scrapltd.com.au.

Stride Mental Health Services

Connection for Carers

Stride will work with isolated or at-risk older people who are carers of those experiencing mental illness. We will facilitate a range of social, self-care, and educational events aimed at reducing social isolation by connecting people, supporting fitness and creativity, enhancing knowledge, and improving wellbeing.

This project operates in Kiama, Randwick, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Sutherland Shire, Sydney and Wollongong, and targets the following priority group:

• Seniors who are carers

For more information, please contact stridebd@stride.com.au.

The Wagga Wagga Women’s Shed

Wagga Women's Shed Garden

The area Wagga Women’s Shed rents includes disused tennis courts. It is our desire to convert some of this with raised garden beds. We are wanting to grow vegetables, fruit and herbs for sharing with the ladies involved, as well as some fruit trees and a sensory area.

This project operates in Wagga Wagga, and targets the following priority groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
• Seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas
• Seniors living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness

For more information, please contact waggawaggawomensshed@hotmail.com.

Wesley Community Services Ltd (Wesley Mission)

Reducing Social Isolation For Male Carers From CaLD Backgrounds

Male caregivers (or carers) from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds are a growing community in NSW and widely considered as 'hidden'. Through this project, Wesley Mission will create two groups of lasting social connections for 30 CaLD male carers who are at the risk of social isolation.

This project operates in Georges River, and targets the following priority groups:

• Seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
• Seniors who are carers

For more information, please contact Chris.England@wesleymission.org.au.

More information

For further information about the grant program please see the main Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grant Program page.