Broome's Australia Post Office tackles loneliness crisis with free postcards
Broome's Australia Post Office and Beyond Blue are tackling the mental health and loneliness crisis by offering free postcards to customer to help encourage connection.
This year, households across Western Australia are set to receive nearly 800,000 Connection Postcards, as part of a national campaign, where five million prepaid Connection Postcards are being delivered to letterboxes across the country.
Australia Post Community and Stakeholder Engagement general manager Nicky Tracey said it was about encouraging Australians to pause, pick up a pen, and reach out to someone they care about.
'We're proud to partner with Beyond Blue and for the fifth consecutive year to connect more people with mental health information and with each other,' she said.
'What we know is that people still feel a much deeper emotional connection when they receive a letter or postcard. And that's why we want to encourage people to write to one another, to improve connection.'
Created by regional Australian artist, Jocelyn Proust, the illustration on the cards includes two fairy wrens in a vibrant natural setting to signify the power of communication for connection and begins with the words, 'sharing this postcard because I care'.
Beyond Blue chief executive Georgie Harman said the initiative is a reminder of the power of connection and how small acts of kindness can have a big impact on our mental health.
'Research shows that everyday micro interactions like saying hello to people in our local neighbourhood as we're walking the dog or popping into the shops can help us feel less lonely and more connected,' she said.
'Our partnership with Australia Post and the Connection Postcards embodies those small but mighty moments by encouraging Australians to let someone know they're thinking about them.
'Australia Post's large network helps us reach regional and rural communities, where people are more likely to experience loneliness, which can affect their mental health, and where access to support is often limited.'
A recent study by Beyond Blue in 2024 found one in three people in Australia have reported feeling lonely and 30 per cent of people said loneliness or a lack of connection caused distress last year — ranking just behind financial pressure, relationship challenges, and housing stress.
Since its launch in 2020, the Connection Postcards initiative has seen Australia Post distribute 21 million postcards.
The postcards are now available at Broome Post Office.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
8 hours ago
- West Australian
Broome's Australia Post Office tackles loneliness crisis with free postcards
Broome's Australia Post Office and Beyond Blue are tackling the mental health and loneliness crisis by offering free postcards to customer to help encourage connection. This year, households across Western Australia are set to receive nearly 800,000 Connection Postcards, as part of a national campaign, where five million prepaid Connection Postcards are being delivered to letterboxes across the country. Australia Post Community and Stakeholder Engagement general manager Nicky Tracey said it was about encouraging Australians to pause, pick up a pen, and reach out to someone they care about. 'We're proud to partner with Beyond Blue and for the fifth consecutive year to connect more people with mental health information and with each other,' she said. 'What we know is that people still feel a much deeper emotional connection when they receive a letter or postcard. And that's why we want to encourage people to write to one another, to improve connection.' Created by regional Australian artist, Jocelyn Proust, the illustration on the cards includes two fairy wrens in a vibrant natural setting to signify the power of communication for connection and begins with the words, 'sharing this postcard because I care'. Beyond Blue chief executive Georgie Harman said the initiative is a reminder of the power of connection and how small acts of kindness can have a big impact on our mental health. 'Research shows that everyday micro interactions like saying hello to people in our local neighbourhood as we're walking the dog or popping into the shops can help us feel less lonely and more connected,' she said. 'Our partnership with Australia Post and the Connection Postcards embodies those small but mighty moments by encouraging Australians to let someone know they're thinking about them. 'Australia Post's large network helps us reach regional and rural communities, where people are more likely to experience loneliness, which can affect their mental health, and where access to support is often limited.' A recent study by Beyond Blue in 2024 found one in three people in Australia have reported feeling lonely and 30 per cent of people said loneliness or a lack of connection caused distress last year — ranking just behind financial pressure, relationship challenges, and housing stress. Since its launch in 2020, the Connection Postcards initiative has seen Australia Post distribute 21 million postcards. The postcards are now available at Broome Post Office.
West Australian
9 hours ago
- West Australian
COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1: Everything you need to know about the new dominant strain and how our vaccines will hold up
A new COVID-19 variant is drawing global attention due to its rapid spread worldwide. The variant — NB.1.8.1 — is set to become the dominant strain in Australia. However, because it has mutated from known variants, the nation's vaccines are still expected to offer decent protection. NB.1.8.1 is already the dominant strain in Western Australia, according to wastewater surveillance reports. 'It's taking off pretty quickly,' Deakin University Professor and Epidemiology Chair Catherine Bennett told 'It is related to variants that we've seen, it looks like two of them have kind of combined, but it has some new mutations as well.' These mutations have two key effects. First, the variant appears different enough from previous strains that our immune systems don't immediately recognize it. This means it can evade the immune defences developed through earlier infections or vaccinations, Bennett explained. Second, the mutations improve the variant's ability to bind to receptors in the mucosal linings of the human body. 'It just means if you're exposed, you're more likely to catch it,' Bennett said. 'People just need to be aware of infection where they can, and avoid spreading it where they can — if they've got symptoms, no matter what it is, it's not the time to socialise.' NB.1.8.1 is a descendant from Omicron JN.1 — the same strain targeted by current vaccines. 'It was wise that they invested in vaccines that were trailing along that JN.1 family,' Bennett told 'While the vaccine is not perfectly matched to this sub-variant, there is enough relationship with the JN.1 strain that is in the vaccine, that allows us to still have an effective vaccine.' This winter marks Australia's fifth with COVID-19 — though the worst impacts occurred in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In recent months, Australians have relaxed their attitudes toward the virus, buoyed by a seasonal reprieve from high infection rates — a reprieve that has also lowered overall immunity. That complacency is one of several factors creating a perfect storm for a surge in cases: winter, waning immunity, immune evasion by the new variant, and its high transmissibility. 'All those things lining up together suggest that we might be in for a bigger winter wave, possibly even than we saw last year,' Bennett said. 'It could be the first time in a year that we see COVID really starting to impact people,' she said. Bennett noted that right now, 'is the first time that people in ICU with COVID-19 has dropped to the level it has.' These ICU rates are the lowest since 2021 — but they are expected to rise again this winter. 'The more we can do to help reduce spreading the virus around, then the better off we'll be,' Bennett said. At the height of the pandemic in Australia, deaths from COVID-19 were ten times higher than those from the flu. 'That's dropped, but it is still five times higher than the flu. So COVID-19 is still to be taken seriously,' Bennett said. The World Health Organisation recently evaluated NB.1.8.1 as a 'low risk' variant overall. That classification reflects comparisons with previous, more severe strains, but also considers current levels of population immunity and treatment availability. 'It can still make some people very sick, but it's not more severe than the last strains we've seen,' Bennett said. 'The other thing the World Health Organisation looks at, is whether the treatments we have still work, that our testing measures still work, that all of that is still okay — and it is,' she said. 'Actually having a booster shot at the start of a wave gives you the best coverage you can have through those next six to eight weeks, which is how long a wave will take.' She urged people over 65 to review their vaccination status, and reminded adults over 18 that they remain eligible for boosters. 'It pays to think about whether you've had an infection, and whether actually a booster might not be a bad thing at this stage.'
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Perth Now
Experts sound the alarm as new COVID-19 strain gains ground
A new COVID-19 variant is drawing global attention due to its rapid spread worldwide. The variant — NB.1.8.1 — is set to become the dominant strain in Australia. However, because it has mutated from known variants, the nation's vaccines are still expected to offer decent protection. NB.1.8.1 is already the dominant strain in Western Australia, according to wastewater surveillance reports. 'It's taking off pretty quickly,' Deakin University Professor and Epidemiology Chair Catherine Bennett told 'It is related to variants that we've seen, it looks like two of them have kind of combined, but it has some new mutations as well.' These mutations have two key effects. First, the variant appears different enough from previous strains that our immune systems don't immediately recognize it. This means it can evade the immune defences developed through earlier infections or vaccinations, Bennett explained. Second, the mutations improve the variant's ability to bind to receptors in the mucosal linings of the human body. 'It just means if you're exposed, you're more likely to catch it,' Bennett said. 'People just need to be aware of infection where they can, and avoid spreading it where they can — if they've got symptoms, no matter what it is, it's not the time to socialise.' NB.1.8.1 is a descendant from Omicron JN.1 — the same strain targeted by current vaccines. 'It was wise that they invested in vaccines that were trailing along that JN.1 family,' Bennett told 'While the vaccine is not perfectly matched to this sub-variant, there is enough relationship with the JN.1 strain that is in the vaccine, that allows us to still have an effective vaccine.' This winter marks Australia's fifth with COVID-19 — though the worst impacts occurred in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In recent months, Australians have relaxed their attitudes toward the virus, buoyed by a seasonal reprieve from high infection rates — a reprieve that has also lowered overall immunity. That complacency is one of several factors creating a perfect storm for a surge in cases: winter, waning immunity, immune evasion by the new variant, and its high transmissibility. 'All those things lining up together suggest that we might be in for a bigger winter wave, possibly even than we saw last year,' Bennett said. 'It could be the first time in a year that we see COVID really starting to impact people,' she said. Bennett noted that right now, 'is the first time that people in ICU with COVID-19 has dropped to the level it has.' These ICU rates are the lowest since 2021 — but they are expected to rise again this winter. 'The more we can do to help reduce spreading the virus around, then the better off we'll be,' Bennett said. At the height of the pandemic in Australia, deaths from COVID-19 were ten times higher than those from the flu. 'That's dropped, but it is still five times higher than the flu. So COVID-19 is still to be taken seriously,' Bennett said. The World Health Organisation recently evaluated NB.1.8.1 as a 'low risk' variant overall. That classification reflects comparisons with previous, more severe strains, but also considers current levels of population immunity and treatment availability. 'It can still make some people very sick, but it's not more severe than the last strains we've seen,' Bennett said. 'The other thing the World Health Organisation looks at, is whether the treatments we have still work, that our testing measures still work, that all of that is still okay — and it is,' she said. 'Actually having a booster shot at the start of a wave gives you the best coverage you can have through those next six to eight weeks, which is how long a wave will take.' She urged people over 65 to review their vaccination status, and reminded adults over 18 that they remain eligible for boosters. 'It pays to think about whether you've had an infection, and whether actually a booster might not be a bad thing at this stage.'
