About Us
Fighting Loneliness Together
Social Prescribing: Empowering Individuals to Live Their Best Lives
Social prescribing is a life-changing initiative where health professionals can refer patients to access social services and activities that address social determinants contributing to poor health and loneliness.
- For individuals, it enhances mental wellbeing, reduces isolation, increases confidence and encourages healthy lifestyles
- For communities, it strengthens local networks, supports community organisations, reduces pressure on health services and builds more connected, resilient communities.
How Living Our Best Life Began
In 2019, Equity Trustees funded the CHAOS Network to trial a unique social prescribing model inspired by Mendip Health Connections and the Bromley by Bow Centre in the United Kingdom that could be sustainable in the Australian community.
A Transformational Impact on Communities
Today, Living Our Best Life has expanded to other areas of the Eastern suburbs and across the state. For participants Living our best life has reduced social isolation, built confidence, created safe and welcoming spaces to reconnect with others. Through a tailored, person-centred approach, individuals have been able to access services, develop new skills, and engage more fully in community life contributing to improved social health and wellbeing.
Melbourne's Inner East
NIECH (the Network of Inner East Community Houses) is a vibrant Network of 29 Neighbourhood Houses and Community Centres that span across 4 Local Government areas including the City of Monash, the City of Boroondara, the City of Whitehorse and the City of Manningham. With funding from the Aged Person’s Welfare Foundation they are replicating Living Our Best Life.
Balwyn North
This Talking Café commences on 14 January 2026
Wednesdays 2:30pm – 3:30pm
The Jolly Miller, 315 Doncaster Rd, Balwyn North
Burwood
This Talking Café commences on 15 January 2026
Thursdays 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Ferguson Plarre, Burwood One Shopping Centre, 210 Burwood Hwy, Burwood
Upper Murray Region
The Upper Murray Regional Neighbourhood House Network adopted the Living Our Best Life model in 2024 in the LGAs of; Wodonga, Towong, Indigo, Alpine, Wangaratta and Moira.
For more information on this project please contact Trish Curtis. 0488 572 225 coordinator@uppermurraynhn.org.
- 0457 646 384
- livingourbestlife@chaosnetwork.org.au
We acknowledge funding support from The Wicking Trust, managed by Equity Trustees and Maroondah City Council and in kind support from CHAOS Network. Past funders of Living Our Best Life include Jack Brockhoff Foundation, Knox City Council and Aus Post.
We acknowledge the support of Social Planet for all our data management needs
