Upper Murray Regional
Neighbourhood
House Network
1 Oct 2025
Instead of asking “What’s the matter?” we ask “What matters to you?”
When Katie Testa stepped into the role of project worker at Birallee Park Neighbourhood House for the Social Prescribing Talking Café, she joined a Network-wide project that was already underway. With little prior knowledge of social prescribing, she began by doing some research. What stood out most to her was a concept she discovered from India: instead of asking “What’s the matter?” practitioners asked “What matters to you?” This simple shift in perspective, she says, reframed everything. It moved the focus from problems to priorities, from illness to wellbeing, and from deficits to strengths.
Taking this approach, Katie began attending Birallee's Social Prescribing Talking Café, where community members and volunteers gather to connect, share stories, and support each other. “It was lovely to listen as they shared information and knowledge with each other,” she reflects. “I have also noticed that they often stay after the café has finished to continue chatting. Through this I am not only learning what the participants need but also how to better support the volunteers.” For Katie, the Talking Café has been a place of learning and growth, where she’s witnessed firsthand the value of social connection.
Beyond the café, Katie has been actively building her skills and networks. She has taken part in project training and online meetings, which have helped her connect with peers also working on the Connecting Community in Upper Hume Social Prescribing project. She has also been “pounding the pavement” to visit local agencies, raising awareness about the project while sharing resources and knowledge in return. These conversations, she says, have deepened her understanding of social prescribing and reinforced why the work matters.
“I’m really feeling like I’m starting to get traction now,” Katie says. “I’m so glad to be part of this project—something that makes a positive change. I’m also grateful to be given this opportunity.” Her journey reflects the essence of the Talking Café itself: people coming together, learning from each other, and discovering what truly matters.