Our sense of belonging is vital, as it provides us with a sense of identity, social support, safety, opportunities for civic engagement, and personal well-being. It helps build stronger communities, promotes unity, and enhances the overall fabric of society.
 
But there remain some concerns. The most recent results from the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute’s Mapping cohesion surveys reveal a decline in Australians' sense of belonging, especially among the young and economically disadvantaged. Yet, interestingly, despite Australia’s rapid demographic shifts, a strong sense of community persists within neighbourhoods.
 
In this episode, we will explore these changes in the context of Australia's fast-growing regions.
 
We're unpacking the implications of Australia's evolving neighbourhoods and demographic changes on our sense of belonging, both on a national and local scale. And most importantly, we'll discuss how we can ensure no communities in our rapidly expanding regions are left feeling disconnected or overlooked.
 
Voices of Australia is a Scanlon Foundation Research Institute podcast exploring all things interesting in the world of social cohesion.
 
In this episode we discuss:
How social and community infrastructure plays a role in community connectedness
Looking at opportunities in outer suburban areas
The role of volunteers in building neighbourhoods
The cultural shift moving away from CBDs to achieve the ‘city’ experience
How community services need to reimagine how they engage with young people

Voices of Australia is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]
 
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