Loneliness Awareness Week: Making room for connection

"I used to feel disconnected and isolated and now with the neurodiverse support group, I feel very connected, I feel very empowered, I feel like I have a platform, and I feel like I have a voice." Gill Strong, Medibank Local Community Specialist.

For Gill, connection isn't about big gestures. It's the everyday moments – a colleague checking in, sharing a story, or just talking about cats – that can make a profound difference.

Her story is one of many being shared during Loneliness Awareness Week (3–9 August), a national campaign led by our social impact partner, Ending Loneliness Together. This year’s theme encourages people to “make room for connection” in their everyday lives.

New research from Ending Loneliness Together highlights just how important social connection is to our health and wellbeing.

Their State of the Nation 2026: Understanding and Rebuilding Social Connection report found that one in two people are experiencing loneliness, social isolation, or both.

Australians aged 45–54 are the most likely to experience both loneliness and social isolation (28%), which could be contributed by many pressures including divorce, caring responsibilities and eroding workplace connection. Young adults aged 18–25 are the loneliest age group, with 1 in 5 reporting loneliness, despite being the most digitally connected generation.

These findings remind us that while loneliness can affect anyone, meaningful connection can make a significant difference. Often, it's the small, intentional moments that help people feel supported, included and a greater sense of belonging. At Medibank, we know connection is more than a nice-to-have. It's a powerful protective factor and fundamental to good health and wellbeing.

Medibank Group Medical Director Dr Shona Sundaraj said: “We know that loneliness is not only a risk factor for mental health issues but also affects physical health.

“Loneliness can affect anyone, regardless of age, background or circumstance. Whether it's becoming a new parent, moving away from home, changing jobs, or experiencing ill health – some of life's most common transitions can also be among the periods when we're most vulnerable to loneliness,” she said.

Dr Sundaraj said loneliness and social isolation can have a compounding effect, reducing people’s energy, confidence, and motivation to engage in everyday activities like exercising. This reduced participation can negatively impact physical health and reinforce ongoing isolation.

She said we know many more people are experiencing loneliness than are openly talking about it. “By talking more openly about loneliness, we can reduce stigma, help people feel less alone in their experiences, and encourage them to seek the connection and support they need,” Dr Sundaraj said.

She added that building social connection often starts with small acts of courage.

“Making new friends often requires us to be vulnerable, take a chance and put ourselves out there. It can feel uncomfortable, but those small acts of courage are often how meaningful connections begin,” she said.

No single organisation can solve loneliness alone. It takes collaboration across health, community, government and business sectors to build a more connected and healthier Australia.

It’s why Medibank is proud to continue its partnership with Ending Loneliness Together, Australia's peak body bringing people and organisations together to drive and coordinate Australia’s response to loneliness

"At Medibank, we're committed to being a leading voice in normalising these conversations and supporting initiatives that strengthen social connection," Dr Sundaraj said.

Through our partnership with Ending Loneliness Together, our investment in research and community initiatives, and our 10-year commitment to help address loneliness in Australia, we're working to create more opportunities for meaningful connection and better health outcomes.

Join the Live Better Connection Challenge

This Loneliness Awareness Week and throughout August, we're encouraging Australians to turn awareness into action through the Live Better Connection Challenge, launching on Monday 3 August.

The challenge invites people to make room for connection at home, work, school or in their community through simple actions that can help strengthen social bonds and create a greater sense of belonging.

Each week, challenge yourself to:

• Invite someone for a coffee.
• Include a colleague in your lunch plans.
• Reconnect with an old friend.
• Do your daily walk and invite someone along.
• Welcome someone new into a regular activity or group.

These small actions may seem simple, but they can have a meaningful impact. Because connection doesn't always come from big moments - often it's the everyday interactions that help people feel seen, valued and included.