For over two years the community sector has been on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been caring for our community’s most vulnerable. We have seen them step up, protect lives and help people through the most difficult circumstances. To recognise frontline workers and the personal toll this work has on their health and wellbeing, in 2020 we set up our SmartCare initiative. To date we have made $67,000 of grants to 26 organisations, and we need your support to do more in 2022.

Research, and our own lived experiences, tell us that more frequent social contact is associated with higher life satisfaction and better, overall health and wellbeing outcomes. Conversely, social isolation and loneliness can have significant, negative impacts for many people’s health and wellbeing. In May, as part of our Collective initiative we partnered with a local philanthropic Foundation to support 8 social inclusion programs across Metro Melbourne.