Upper Murray Regional
Neighbourhood
House Network
8 July 2025
Relevant, engaged and effective information drives community connection in Wangaratta
The Rural City of Wangaratta, in collaboration with the Grit & Resilience Program, has embarked on an exciting new project to update the community directory. This initiative aims to bridge the gap identified in the existing directory by including a dedicated section for social groups, thereby enhancing social connections and mental health support within the community.
The project came about when the Grit & Resilience consortium recognized the importance of social contact for mental health and social isolation. They approached Open Door Neighbourhood House, known for its work in community connecting and social prescribing, and saw them as the perfectly placed organisation to partner in this endeavour. The goal was to find the best way to contact community groups and encourage them to list their details in the directory.
Community involvement has been a cornerstone of this project. Local social groups in Wangaratta were contacted and invited to participate. The project adopted a community development approach, allowing groups to upload their information and create their listings. This not only upskilled the groups but also gave them ownership of their listings, ensuring the information remains current and accurate.
The principles of community development were incorporated by empowering groups to complete the online information themselves and by establishing personal connections through individual contact. A how-to guide was created to assist groups in undertaking this task independently.
The project was funded through the Grit & Resilience Program, with Open Door Neighbourhood House contracted to complete it. This initiative is now available for any new or altered social groups, with recommendations provided for ongoing updates and layout improvements of the directory.
Partnerships have played a crucial role in the success of this project. The collaboration between the Grit & Resilience Program, Rural City of Wangaratta, and Open Door Neighbourhood House has been instrumental in its implementation.
Promotion methods have varied, with a social media blitz conducted by Grit & Resilience. However, we have found direct phone and email contact proved to be the most effective in reaching the target audience.
Upon the completion of the project a report will be completed so that other councils can review the outcomes of this project.
This project is a testament to the power of community collaboration and the importance of social connections in enhancing mental health and well-being. By updating the community directory to include social groups, Wangaratta is taking a significant step towards a more connected and resilient community.