Wellbeing & Culture

Loneliness Awareness week (4th-10th August) and International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (9th August)

Loneliness Awareness Week:

Simply being around others doesn’t mean feeling seen, heard, or understood. Many young people live with family, carers, flatmates or friends, but they still feel lonely. Feeling lonely at home can increase stress and anxiety, affecting confidence, relationships, and wellbeing. On the flip side, respectful and healthy relationships at home can boost self-worth, create a sense of belonging and establish the foundation for healthy boundaries and self-expression in other connections - such as with colleagues, friends and intimate relationships.

Check out https://lonelinessawarenessweek.com.au/ for ideas on how to connect with others positively. 

You can also check out a fun family game https://www.familyroast.com.au/ for some fun and connection with your family and you can even invite some friends around.

International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples (9th August):

We need indigenous communities for a better world. There are an estimated 476 million Indigenous Peoples in the world living across 90 countries. They make up less than 6 per cent of the world's population, but account for at least 15 per cent of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures.

Indigenous Peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, Indigenous Peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.

Indigenous Peoples have sought recognition of their identities, their way of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources for years. Yet, throughout history, their rights have been violated. Indigenous Peoples today, are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world. The international community now recognizes that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and way of life.

How can you celebrate the world’s indigenous peoples with you family, friends, or simply by raising awareness for your self?

https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day

Hayley Nixon and Kelly Goodgame – On behalf of the Wellbeing and Culture Team