Latest news with #RelationshipsAustralia
The Age
18-05-2025
- General
- The Age
Should you try to repair a family rift or just let go?
When Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, stood down as a senior royal in 2020, the Windsor family fractured. Since then, Harry has moved across the world from the royals, a controversial tell-all memoir betrayed their trust, and a legal dispute over security further deepened the rift. However, in an interview with the BBC this month, Harry revealed he wants to mend his relationship with his family. 'I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious,' the prince said, adding that he doesn't know how much time he has left with his father, King Charles III. Meanwhile, the notable absence of Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and his wife, Nicola Peltz Beckham, from pictures of David Beckham's 50th birthday celebrations on May 3 has raised questions about the state of relationships in football's royal family. While none of the Beckhams have formally addressed reporting about a family rift, the speculation has proved a reminder that all families are complicated, from the rich and famous to the everyday. About one in 25 Australians have been estranged from their family at some point in their lives. And according to a Relationships Australia report published last year, 23 per cent of respondents said different values or beliefs were placing pressure on their relationships – up from 12 per cent in 2022. If Prince Harry wants to mend fences, chances are others do, too. But can a broken family really be repaired? Why are family rifts so common? Family relationships are foundational, emotionally charged and often expected to endure, says Australian Psychological Society president Sara Quinn. This can create pressure around maintaining them, and particular pain if they break down. 'Families are where we first learn about love, identity and belonging. When these expectations are repeatedly unmet or violated, rifts and estrangement can follow,' she says.
The Age
02-05-2025
- General
- The Age
Six small (but effective) ways to connect with your neighbours
There's a lot of talk about Australia's loneliness epidemic. Despite most of the country's population living in cities, somehow we've reached a point where many have little or no connection with the people in their immediate vicinity. Add to that an international environment where the politics of division have become ubiquitous and we find ourselves even less inclined to make pleasantries with the neighbours. While some extol the virtues of grand events such as street parties or school fetes to build stronger communities, executive director of Relationships Australia Nick Tebbey says there's beauty in the small gestures which have the capacity for lasting impact. 'It's about keeping it simple, which is more sustainable over time,' he says. Stronger connections reduce our sense of loneliness, Tebbey says, which also has serious impacts for our mental and physical health. 'It also builds greater resilience because I know people in my local area are available should I need them.' Small acts, where the social stakes are low, are a great starting point. If a gesture doesn't land well, try something else. It's about sustainable behaviours with long-term benefits, says Tebbey, who points to Relationships Australia's Neighbours Every Day program as a resource for change. Here's six easy-to-action ideas to get the neighbourhood ball rolling. Just keep mowing If you already have the mower out on the weekend, and the neighbour's nature strip looks a little shaggy, Tebbey says it's not much extra effort to cut their grass too, as it were. This can be especially welcome where the neighbour is elderly or has mobility issues.
Sydney Morning Herald
02-05-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Six small (but effective) ways to connect with your neighbours
There's a lot of talk about Australia's loneliness epidemic. Despite most of the country's population living in cities, somehow we've reached a point where many have little or no connection with the people in their immediate vicinity. Add to that an international environment where the politics of division have become ubiquitous and we find ourselves even less inclined to make pleasantries with the neighbours. While some extol the virtues of grand events such as street parties or school fetes to build stronger communities, executive director of Relationships Australia Nick Tebbey says there's beauty in the small gestures which have the capacity for lasting impact. 'It's about keeping it simple, which is more sustainable over time,' he says. Stronger connections reduce our sense of loneliness, Tebbey says, which also has serious impacts for our mental and physical health. 'It also builds greater resilience because I know people in my local area are available should I need them.' Small acts, where the social stakes are low, are a great starting point. If a gesture doesn't land well, try something else. It's about sustainable behaviours with long-term benefits, says Tebbey, who points to Relationships Australia's Neighbours Every Day program as a resource for change. Here's six easy-to-action ideas to get the neighbourhood ball rolling. Just keep mowing If you already have the mower out on the weekend, and the neighbour's nature strip looks a little shaggy, Tebbey says it's not much extra effort to cut their grass too, as it were. This can be especially welcome where the neighbour is elderly or has mobility issues.
