This report provides the findings of a study commissioned by the Sydney Community Collaborative, a group of five local community-based organisations in south-eastern and inner west Sydney, New South Wales. The study originated from concerns by the five organisations about the increasing requests being made to them to support socially isolated and lonely older people and the lack of adequate programs and resources to enable them to fully assist. 

The prevalence of social isolation and loneliness has rapidly increased in Australia and elsewhere. While this has had a big impact on younger people, older people remain a major group at risk, as has historically been the case. This report has arisen from concerns by community service leaders about the need for a better response to the large and growing problem of social isolation and loneliness among older people, especially in relation to what can be done at a local community and neighbourhood level, which it is shown can have the most impact. 

The report has three major purposes – first, as a briefing paper for local bodies on research findings about this issue; second, as practical guidance to assist local bodies to take effective action to reduce and combat the problem; and third, to help develop the case for national and state governments to make policy and funding decisions that support local action in this space.