Mental health is another area in which Movember has been pursuing real change for men across the world. Here in Australia, mental illness is a serious issue, with one in five adult Australians experiencing a mental illness in any given year.
There are two key conditions which must exist in a successful community, and which must support and energise the efforts of that community's constituent members. These are the establishment of community norms and the fostering of shared purposes. These conditions create the platform upon which an engaged, motivated and community-minded society can be built. Read on to learn more.
These three links are based on respect and inclusion. Australia is a deeply multi-cultural country and if we are to continue to celebrate diversity and solidarity in this nation, we need to practice this respect and prevent exclusion of all kinds, including along the lines of age, race, ethnicity, gender and religion.
Building community engagement requires real, tangible steps. Discussion and consideration are important, but it is action which takes a great idea and turns it into reality. These are our tangible dimensions which need to be put into practice when nurturing strong community engagement.
Australia is not a poor nation in terms of community. A study carried out by Australian Unity and Deakin University released in 2016 showed that Australia is becoming happier. The research identified several aspects as contributing to happiness – safety, future security, living standards and community connection.
Building an engaged and diverse society is one of the biggest challenges for Australia today. Australian citizens have always acted voluntarily to build the communities they are part of. They have created organisations both formally and informally, which have been committed to various issues.