Gold Coast NeighbourGood Challenge - changing lives this Christmas

Christmas should be a happy time of the year, a chance to celebrate and be with the ones we love. Yet for many people on the Gold Coast this is sadly not the case.

With mental illness affecting 1 in 4 Australians, and suicide being at a ten year peak, not for profit organisation FSG Australia (FSGA) is asking everyone to look out for their neighbours and make sure they say hello this Christmas.

During December in the build up to Christmas FSGA is launching their Gold Coast Neighbourgood Challenge.

The campaign is launching over the coming weeks to ALL 165,000 households on the Gold Coast and is supported by The Gold Coast City Council and the Gold Coast Neighbourhood Watch group.

For many people Christmas can be a source of anxiety and depression. They may feel very alone because they’ve lost a loved one or even their job. Feelings of sadness, inadequacy and failure can be overwhelming for some. There are shockingly over 200 attempted suicides every day in Australia and Christmas is not excluded.

FSGA is asking Gold Coast residents to think about whether they’ve said hello to their neighbour lately. Via the campaign FSGA will be highlighting the numerous benefits and dramatic impact this can have on someone’s life.

Vicki Batten, CEO of FSGA said,

“Saying hello to your neighbour is a great way to start friendships and connect communities. It’s also a way to ensure people do not feel isolated and alone this Christmas. Our Neighbourgood Challenge is launching this Christmas, but we hope that it will change the way in which we all interact with our neighbours from this day forward. It’s vital that people come together to support each other, and to build thriving, healthy and happy communities where everyone feels like they belong.“

How can you connect with your neighbours?

·       - Introduce yourself the next time you see your neighbour

·      -  Invite them for afternoon tea

·       - Wave and say hello when passing by

·       - Give them a Christmas card

·       - Participate in organizing a street party or get together

 

You may even want to make sure your neighbour has plans in place for the Christmas period. If not, why not invite them along to your celebrations if you can.

Vicki added, “We all need to feel part of a community and just need a little help sometimes”.

If you’re feeling alone and would like to talk to one of FSGA’s Dreamweaver’s who can assist you towards achieving your life goals and aspirations you can call (07) 5564 0655.

If you would like to share a ‘NeighbourGood’ story then email it to stories@fsg.org.au

To find out more about the Gold Coast Neighbourhood Challenge visit www.fsg.org.au

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INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: If you would like to arrange an interview with Vicki Batten, CEO for FSG Australia please contact Clare Southwell on 0448 720 549.

 

 

 

NOTES TO MEDIA

About FSG Australia:

 

FSG Australia (FSGA) is a not-for-profit community organisation and centre for Social Enterprise, offering a wide range of innovative services in disability, mental health, aged care, family services and children’s services. FSGA also operates several retail social enterprise initiatives including an Op Shop, Cafe, Green Shop, Nursery, Co-working Space and Green Shop.

 

Today, FSGA is determined as ever to achieve our vision for a community that connects with all people and is free of social injustice.

 

FSGA is one of the largest community organisations in Queensland and operates from Maryborough on the Fraser Coast through to Ballina, with its head office based on the Gold Coast. FSGA now has presence and services operating in and around the Ballina Shire in NSW.

 

With over 640 staff and up to 300 volunteers between its 14 regional locations, FSGA provide a service to around 2,500 per month.

 

For more information visit www.fsg.org.au

 

 

Suicide Statistics Source: - https://www.lifeline.org.au/About-Lifeline/Media-Centre/Suicide-Statistics-in-Australia/Suicide-Statistics