Living our best life project

About the Project

The Living our best life project was originally funded, by Equity Trustees, as an Ageing Innovation Challenge in late 2019. It successfully trialled, in the City of Knox, a model of social prescribing inspired by the work of Mendip Health Connections and the Bromley by Bow Centre in the United Kingdom. Social prescribing is the practice where health professionals provide a referral for a patient to be linked into social services and activities to address the social determinant contributing to poor health and loneliness.

The project has guaranteed funding from Equity Trustees to continue in 2023 and 2024 and to expand the project to cover the local government areas of Maroondah, Manningham, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges.

Beneficiaries of the project are connected into a range of community activities with positive feedback from all stakeholders. Beneficiaries have reported improved feelings of wellbeing and social connectedness with some describing it as “life changing” and even “life-saving”.

Information on referral processes, including self-referral are included on this site.

Information for Participants

Once referred the volunteer community connector will contact you by telephone to discuss the referral with you. This will usually be within five working days. They may invite you to meet with them in a public place. Together you will be able to:

  • Explore what is important for your wellbeing
  • Identify the local activities and services you can benefit from
  • Gain support and encouragement to start using services that can help you

Information for Referring Professionals