Addressing Social Isolation
A Socially Inclusive society is defined as one where all people feel valued, their differences are respected, and their basic needs are met so they can live in dignity. On the other hand, social exclusion is the process of being shut out from the social, economic, political and cultural systems which contribute to the integration of a person into the community (Monsignor Cappo, 2002).Social connectedness and social inclusion are key determinants of mental and physical health that are linked to the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, through the action areas of building healthy public policy, creating supportive environments and strengthening community action.
The evidence suggests that the prevalence of illness and mortality increases in individuals
who do not feel connected and who feel socially excluded (Kawachi & Berkman 2000; Bunker et al 2003).
People experience social exclusion for a variety of reasons, for example, through discrimination, not being able to get a job, being homeless or generally being in a situation where they feel like their ideas and opinions are not valued.
Populations most commonly identified as vulnerable to, or most at risk of, social exclusion include women, racial and ethnic minority groups, refugees, people living with disabilities, people living with chronic illness (including mental ill health), and older people (especially those living on pensions).
WCHM is committed to working with groups of women who are marginalised and socially isolated, and have identified five priority population groups as the focus of our work on addressing social isolation in the ACT. In the 2008-2012 Strategic Plan, the following groups of women are the priority:
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Women— Women from CALD communities include women who are migrants or refugees. The particular focus of WCHM is women who are recently arrived to Australia or first generation Australians.
- Women with Disabilities— Women with disabilities include women who experience a limitation, restriction or impairment that restricts everyday activities and has lasted or is likely to last at least 6 months.
- Institutionalised women (including women with lived prison experience)— Institutionalised women includes women who have been institutionalised in any institution past or present, including (but not limited to) psychiatric units, hospitals, detoxification centres, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, refuges, detention centres, girls homes, prison, and boarding schools.
- Women with Mental Health Issues— Women with mental health issues include women experiencing mental illness or psychological distress, whether diagnosed by a mental health professional, or self-diagnosed.
- Older Women— Older women are defined as being over 65 years of age, using the Australian Bureau of Statistics definition.
WCHM acknowledges that these women are just some of the many women in the ACT who experience social isolation; others are mentioned in our recent report on Marginalised and Isolated Women in the ACT. Every year WCHM reassesses the services and support available to women in the ACT and reviews our Strategic Plan that sets our direction and focus areas over that period.
More information
The Australian Government has set up a Social Inclusion Board to help ensure that Government policies and procedures promote the inclusion of all Australians. More information can be found at the Social Inclusion Website www.socialinclusion.gov.au. The ACT Government also addresses social inclusion through its Community Inclusion Board, which is made up of members from ACT community organisations and Government departments. More information about the Board can be found at the ACT Community Inclusion Board homepage.
Foundations for a Stronger, Fairer Australia
To mark Social Inclusion Week 2011, the Minister for Social Inclusion, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP launched a report outlining the Australian Government’s social inclusion achievements, Foundations for a Stronger, Fairer Australia. The report includes government action over the last four years that is helping to break down barriers between the most disadvantaged Australians and meaningful participation in the community and the workforce.
The report focuses on the six priority areas of the government’s social inclusion agenda where people face significant barriers:- Improving the life chances of children at the greatest risk of long term disadvantage
- Helping jobless families with children to increase work opportunities, improve their parenting and build their capacity
- Reducing the incidence of homelessness
- Improving outcomes for people living with disability or mental illness and their carers
- Closing the gap for Indigenous Australians and
- Breaking the cycle of entrenched and multiple disadvantage in particular neighbourhoods and communities.
It also looks at what the government is doing to support multiculturalism and help newly arrived migrants and refugees begin their new lives in Australia. http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/node/169