Neighbour Day, a national campaign to ‘check on your neighbour,’ has evolved into an ongoing, year-round social connection campaign, following gaps in social support revealed by the pandemic.

This week, custodian of Neighbour Day since 2014, Relationships Australia launched ‘Neighbours Every Day’.

This next evolution of the annual day of action will extend and not replace Neighbour Day, which will continue to take place on the last Sunday of March each year.

Neighbour Day has operated in Australia for over 20 years, promoting the benefits of well-connected and resilient communities.

Relationships Australia national executive officer, Nick Tebbey, said “We’ve been saying for some years now that ‘Every day is neighbour day!’

“While that mantra gained great traction, research and stakeholder feedback told us that we needed to do more.”

The recent pandemic highlighted the need for all Aussies to have a strong social support network.

Likewise, the idea of ‘who is a neighbour’ has evolved from the people next door to anyone who can provide much-needed support.

Prompted by these shifts, and the feedback from previous Neighbour Day participants, Relationships Australia launched Neighbours Every Day to expand Neighbour Day’s messaging across every day of the year.

“Research shows us that when people connect with their communities, they have a greater sense of belonging, which leads to improved mental wellbeing and a reduction in loneliness,” said Mr Tebbey.

“It also contributes to strength and resilience in the face of external pressures.”

The theme for Neighbours Every Day is ‘Create Belonging’ – a call to action for all Aussies to take everyday measures that promote inclusivity and foster respectful relationships.

“To create belonging is an opportunity to reflect. Belonging often doesn’t come easily. True inclusion and lasting connection take consideration and practice,” said Mr Tebbey.

The next Neighbour Day will take place on 26 March 2023.

To find out more, visit neighbourseveryday.org

Get local, national and world news, plus sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.