Working together to address loneliness and mental health
THE GROUNDSWELL FOUNDATION
Shaping a better future
Groundswell Foundation has been established to address the growing issue of loneliness and its impact on mental health in Australia.
Loneliness is considered by many to be one of the most profound and rapidly developing social issues in the world today, particularly when its relationship to mental health is considered. At Groundswell Foundation, we believe in Thinking Big, Starting Small and Scaling Fast. The Foundation brings together a group of like-minded and influential Australians who have personally been touched by mental health and loneliness and who want to help drive better outcomes for the community.
We will connect these ‘Beautiful Minds’ to shape a better future for the next generation of Australians.
“The Foundation brings together a group of like-minded and influential Australians who have personally been touched by loneliness and who want to help drive better outcomes.”
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to work together to address mental ill-health and loneliness in Australia. We aim to do this by investing for impact.
Overwhelming research points to the harmful impact that social isolation and loneliness have on both mental and physical health. There is little doubt the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this loneliness epidemic. Some of the measures implemented to manage the pandemic, such as physical isolation and lockdowns have, in many cases, exacerbated pre-existing risk factors for social isolation and loneliness, such as living at home and use of mobile technology. Many people are 'connected but disconnected'.
Young people in particular have been hit hard by mental ill-health and loneliness in recent times – and it appears both issues are on the rise.
We aim to be at the cutting edge, identifying and supporting best-in-class innovative programs that drive better solutions to counteract the identified issues of loneliness and mental ill-health. We are happy to embrace risk – to be bold, to invest in evidence-based, super-early mental ill-health and loneliness detection pilot programs, to measure their impact and adapt and iterate so that outcomes are meaningful and scalable both within Australia and across the globe.
“Mental ill-health affects all Australians, either directly or indirectly.”
— Mental Health Productivity Commission Inquiry Report, Australian Government
OUR VISION
Promoting a mentally healthier Australia.
Groundswell Foundation’s vision is to promote a mentally healthier Australia. We aim to achieve this through research into the causes, treatment and prevention of mental ill-health, education and collaboration with other mental health organisations in Australia.
Groundswell Foundation will invest in new and exciting ideas that create collaborative partnerships between business, government, community and organisations focused on loneliness. We are particularly focused on the early detection of and intervention in issues associated with loneliness and mental ill-health. We plan on building robust and sustainable relationships across these sectors and shaping a better future together.
“Too many people experience preventable physical and mental distress, disruptions in education and employment, relationship breakdown, stigma, and loss of life satisfaction and opportunities.”
— Mental Health Productivity Commission Inquiry Report, Australian Government
EFFECTING CHANGE THROUGH COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT
Groundswell Foundation was established in February 2022 as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.
Groundswell Foundation will invest in new and exciting ideas that create collaborative partnerships between business, government, community and organisations focused on loneliness. We plan on building robust and sustainable relationships across these sectors and shaping a better future together.
We believe that:
healthy young people are critical to our nation and our future
every Australian has the right to be respected as an individual and we acknowledge their specific needs, rights and contributions
access to the right support at the right time can positively reset a young person’s life trajectory
access alone is not enough – the quality of services and outcomes matter
an integrated and collaborative approach is the best way to support the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians.
GROUNDSWELL FOUNDATION REFERENCE GROUP
A group of influential Australians.
The Reference Group is a group of influential Australians, including academic, business, community, sporting and political leaders who have personally been touched by loneliness and who share the ambition to help drive better outcomes for the community. The purpose of the Reference Group is to provide strategic guidance to each of the three, concurrent pillars of Groundswell Foundation’s work.
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE
Our Statement
As a charitable foundation, acting responsibly and ethically and embedding sustainable and ethical practices is at the heart of the way Groundswell Foundation operates. We exist to support research, advocacy and activities to effect change in how loneliness and mental ill-health are addressed in Australia.
Groundswell Foundation embraces the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on Goal 3, the promotion of good health and wellbeing.
Groundswell Foundation believes that the future success and prosperity of our society depends on the sustainability of our environment, our communities and our practices, and recognises the importance of considering the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) implications of our activities. We recognise that ESG considerations must also be part of our risk management framework and become part of our day-to-day decision-making processes.
We believe that fulfilling these ESG responsibilities is best achieved by embedding ESG values into our policies, procedures and practices to benefit society.