Prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in New South Wales

Introduction

This inquiry was established on 6 August 2024 to inquire into and report on the prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in NSW.

Contributions to the inquiry can be made via the submissions tab below.

Individual contributors may choose to complete an online questionnaire as an alternative to making a submission.  

Both submissions and online questionnaire responses close on 1 November 2024.

Video recording of the hearing can be found on the NSW Parliament's You Tube channel here.

Sensitive content and themes in evidence

Due to the nature of this inquiry, some evidence presented in submissions and hearings may contain sensitive content and themes. This material could potentially be distressing for certain individuals.

Support for inquiry participants

If you feel distressed because of sensitive content encountered during this inquiry, we encourage you to reach out to the following resources:

  • Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or text 0477 13 11 14. Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
  • Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511. The Mental Health Line is NSW Health's free 24/7 statewide phone service which links people with NSW Health mental health services.
  • Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800. Kids Helpline provides free, confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
  • 13Yarn: 13 92 76. 13Yarn is a free 24/7 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line.
  • QLife 1800 184 527. QLife provides phone or webchat peer support from 3pm-midnight for LGBTQIA+ people.
Terms of reference
Timeline
DateMilestone
Tue 06 August 2024Referred
Fri 01 November 2024Submissions closed
Fri 15 November 2024Hearing - Macquarie Room, Parliament House, Sydney
Thu 12 December 2024Hearing - Jubilee Room, Parliament House, Sydney
Thu 06 February 2025Hearing - Jubilee Room, Parliament House, Sydney
Thu 06 February 2025Hearing - Jubilee Room, Parliament House, Sydney
Fri 07 February 2025Hearing - Moresby Room, Orange Ex-Services' Club, Orange
Fri 01 August 2025Final Report
Fri 01 August 2025Final Report
Mon 03 November 2025Government Response to Final Report due
Mon 03 November 2025Government Response to Final Report
Submissions

Submissions to this inquiry closed on 01 Nov 2024.

View all submissions

Hearings and transcripts
DateVenue details
Fri 15 November 2024Macquarie Room, Parliament House, SydneyView scheduleView transcript
Thu 12 December 2024Jubilee Room, Parliament House, SydneyView scheduleView transcript
Thu 06 February 2025Jubilee Room, Parliament House, SydneyView transcript
Thu 06 February 2025Jubilee Room, Parliament House, SydneyView scheduleView transcript
Fri 07 February 2025Moresby Room, Orange Ex-Services' Club, OrangeView scheduleView transcript
Reports and government responses
Other documents
DateTypeTitle
Mon 04 August 2025Media ReleaseMedia release - Report tabled (pdf, 139.77 KB)
Mon 19 May 2025Correspondence Mr Phil McAuliffe, Founder, Humans:Connecting, sharing additional information for the committee to consider as part of its inquiry into the prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in New South Wales, dated 15 April 2025 (pdf, 868.94 KB)
Wed 09 April 2025Tabled Document'The forces of loneliness can cause political instability. And threaten democracy' - The Guardian - tabled by Mr Anthony D'Adam MLC (pdf, 121.80 KB)
Wed 09 April 2025Tabled Document'Why loneliness fuels populism' - Financial Times - tabled by Mr Anthony D'Adam MLC (pdf, 8.56 MB)
Wed 09 April 2025Tabled DocumentLeah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor, 'Solidarity - The Past, Present and Future of World Changing Ideas' - pp 151-161 - tabled by Mr Anthony D'Adam MLC (pdf, 132.46 KB)
Wed 09 April 2025Tabled DocumentAlexander Langenkamp and Simon Bienstamn - 'Populism and Layers of Social Belonging - Support of Populist Parties in Europe' - tabled by Mr Anthony D'Adam MLC (pdf, 1.27 MB)
Wed 09 April 2025Tabled DocumentDelany Peterson et al - 'Loneliness is positively associated with populist radical right support' - tabled by Mr Anthony D'Adam MLC (pdf, 3.46 MB)
Tue 18 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Ms Sarah Mathews and Ms Holly Reynolds, Little Big Foundation (pdf, 1.14 MB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Professor Thomas Astell-Burt and Professor Xiaoqi Feng, Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab) (pdf, 132.37 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Supplementary QuestionsMs Maddy Williams and Mr Can Yasmut, Local Community Services Association (LCSA) (pdf, 107.55 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Supplementary QuestionsMs Maddy Williams and Mr Can Yasmut, Local Community Services Association (LCSA) (pdf, 56.60 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Supplementary QuestionsMs Maddy Williams and Mr Can Yasmut, Local Community Services Association (LCSA) (pdf, 50.92 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Supplementary QuestionsMs Maddy Williams and Mr Can Yasmut, Local Community Services Association (LCSA) (pdf, 49.02 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Supplementary QuestionsMs Maddy Williams and Mr Can Yasmut, Local Community Services Association (LCSA) (pdf, 65.75 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Supplementary QuestionsMs Maddy Williams and Mr Can Yasmut, Local Community Services Association (LCSA) (pdf, 62.36 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Supplementary QuestionsMs Maddy Williams and Mr Can Yasmut, Local Community Services Association (LCSA) (pdf, 47.45 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Ms Amanda Fairjones and Ms Lily Pham, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (pdf, 263.70 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'Pharmacists’ experiences with the Bloom Program application process' - Ms Amanda Fairjones and Ms Lily Pham, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (pdf, 1.11 MB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'Patient care activities by community pharmacists in a capitation funding model mental health and addictions program' - Ms Amanda Fairjones and Ms Lily Pham, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (pdf, 1.48 MB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'A retrospective analysis of patient care activities in a community pharmacy mental illness and addictions program' - Ms Amanda Fairjones and Ms Lily Pham, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (pdf, 394.22 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'Bloom Program pharmacy teams’ experiences providing mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic' - Ms Amanda Fairjones and Ms Lily Pham, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (pdf, 642.38 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'Evaluation of a training program to support the implementation of a community pharmacist-led support service for people living with severe and persistent mental illness' - Ms Amanda Fairjones and Ms Lily Pham, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (pdf, 364.79 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'Mental Health First Aid training and assessment in Australian medical, nursing and pharmacy curricula: a national perspective using content analysis' - Ms Amanda Fairjones and Ms Lily Pham, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (pdf, 927.23 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid Training and Simulated Psychosis Care Role-Plays for Pharmacy Education' - Ms Amanda Fairjones and Ms Lily Pham, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (pdf, 458.81 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'Pharmacists’ mental health support behaviours with simulated patients: A mixed-methods pilot study' - Ms Amanda Fairjones and Ms Lily Pham, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (pdf, 253.26 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'Impact of mental health first aid training on pharmacy students’ knowledge, attitudes and self-reported behaviour: a controlled trial' - Ms Amanda Fairjones and Ms Lily Pham, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (pdf, 129.09 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'Evaluation of participant reluctance, confidence, and self-reported behaviors since being trained in a pharmacy Mental Health First Aid initiative' - Ms Amanda Fairjones and Ms Lily Pham, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (pdf, 376.90 KB)
Thu 06 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Associate Professor JR Baker, Chair, Australian Social Prescribing Institute of Research & Education (ASPIRE) (pdf, 15.31 MB)
Wed 05 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Ms Jessica Taylor and Mr Alex Kalliris, The Construction Industry Drugs and Alcohol Foundation (pdf, 70.44 KB)
Wed 05 March 2025Additional Information'Social prescribing in NSW: Implementation, Budget, Model and Assumption' - Associate Professor JR Baker, Chair, Australian Social Prescribing Institute of Research & Education (ASPIRE) (pdf, 4.28 MB)
Tue 04 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Ms Josie Howard, Director Regional Workforce, Policy Reform and Evidence, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (pdf, 134.17 KB)
Tue 04 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Ms Chloe Bernard and Mr Robert Taylor, Alcohol and Drug Foundation (pdf, 81.94 KB)
Tue 04 March 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mrs Rebecca Sedgman and Professor Leanne Boase, Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (pdf, 1.19 MB)
Tue 04 March 2025Correspondence Transcript correction for 7 February 2025 - Josie Howard, Director Regional Workforce Policy Reform and Evidence, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (pdf, 843.62 KB)
Tue 25 February 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Ms Jenny Kirschner, Pharmacist and Founder, Pharmacy Addressing Loneliness and Social-isolation (PALS) (pdf, 576.80 KB)
Tue 25 February 2025Additional Information'Patient Education Flyer: Loneliness' - Ms Jenny Kirschner, Pharmacist and Founder, Pharmacy Addressing Loneliness and Social-isolation (PALS) (pdf, 138.25 KB)
Tue 25 February 2025Additional Information'Community flyer - Loneliness can happen to anyone' 1 - Ms Jenny Kirschner, Pharmacist and Founder, Pharmacy Addressing Loneliness and Social-isolation (PALS) (jpg, 522.07 KB)
Tue 25 February 2025Additional Information'Community flyer - Loneliness can happen to anyone' 2 - Ms Jenny Kirschner, Pharmacist and Founder, Pharmacy Addressing Loneliness and Social-isolation (PALS) (jpg, 505.20 KB)
Tue 25 February 2025Additional Information'Community flyer - Loneliness can happen to anyone' 3 - Ms Jenny Kirschner, Pharmacist and Founder, Pharmacy Addressing Loneliness and Social-isolation (PALS) (jpg, 486.87 KB)
Tue 25 February 2025Additional Information'Community flyer - Loneliness can happen to anyone' 4 - Ms Jenny Kirschner, Pharmacist and Founder, Pharmacy Addressing Loneliness and Social-isolation (PALS) (jpg, 434.87 KB)
Tue 18 February 2025Correspondence Dr Anna Brooks and Mr Chris Siorokos, Lifeline Australia (pdf, 586.83 KB)
Fri 14 February 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Dr Marlee Bower, Senior Research Fellow, The Matilda Centre, University of Sydney (pdf, 371.94 KB)
Fri 14 February 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'The impact of the built environment on loneliness: A systematic review and narrative synthesis' - Dr Marlee Bower, Senior Research Fellow, The Matilda Centre, University of Sydney (pdf, 751.03 KB)
Fri 14 February 2025Answers to Questions on Notice 'Why loneliness is both an individual thing and a shared result of the cities we create' - Dr Marlee Bower, Senior Research Fellow, The Matilda Centre, University of Sydney (pdf, 1.37 MB)
Fri 07 February 2025Tabled Document'Proposal: A Business Connect-Style Model for NFPs and Community Groups' - Mr Andrew Greig, LEUT, RAN (Ret.) - Coordinator, Bellum Est (formerly Western PTSD Support) (pdf, 1.51 MB)
Thu 06 February 2025Tabled DocumentLocal Community Services Association, 'Supplementary information to the submission made by LCSA to the loneliness inquiry' - tabled by Ms Maddy Williams, Policy and Research Manager, Local Community Services Association (LCSA) (pdf, 489.80 KB)
Thu 06 February 2025Tabled Document'More green, less lonely - A longitudinal cohort study' - tabled by Dr Amanda Cohn MLC (pdf, 7.14 MB)
Thu 06 February 2025Tabled DocumentPharmaceutical Society of Australia and Pharmacy Addressing Loneliness and Social-isolation - 'Pharmacist training on loneliness' - tabled by Ms Jenny Kirschner, Pharmacist and Founder, Pharmacy Addressing Loneliness and Social-isolation (PALS) (pdf, 644.72 KB)
Thu 06 February 2025Tabled DocumentFirst Person Account on Loneliness - tabled by Professor Sharon Lawn, Executive Director, Lived Experience Australia (LEA) (pdf, 299.15 KB)
Thu 06 February 2025Tabled DocumentLived Experience Australia, 'Understanding Loneliness and Mental Illness' - tabled by Professor Sharon Lawn, Executive Director, Lived Experience Australia (LEA) (pdf, 5.02 MB)
Thu 06 February 2025Tabled DocumentASPIRE, 'Strengthening Civic Health and Social Connection - Immediate Actions for NSW' - tabled by Associate Professor J R Baker, Chair, Australian Social Prescribing Institute of Research & Education (ASPIRE) (pdf, 4.79 MB)
Thu 06 February 2025Tabled DocumentOpening statement - Associate Professor JR Baker, Chair, Australian Social Prescribing Institute of Research & Education (ASPIRE) (pdf, 278.58 KB)
Wed 05 February 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mr Andrew Johnson, Acting CEO - Youth Action (pdf, 430.81 KB)
Tue 04 February 2025Media ReleaseMedia release - Regional hearing (pdf, 119.89 KB)
Wed 22 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Ms Zoe Robinson, Advocate for Children and Young People, Office of the Advocate for children and Young People (pdf, 653.95 KB)
Mon 20 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Dr Murray Wright PSM, NSW Chief Psychiatrist, NSW Ministry of Health (pdf, 108.01 KB)
Wed 15 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Uniting NSW ACT - An evaluation of the impacts of the C2bMe@Home program on clients' wellbeing - December 2022 (pdf, 721.62 KB)
Wed 15 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Uniting NSW ACT - An evaluation of the impacts of the C2bMe@home program on clients' wellbeing - November 2021 (pdf, 643.22 KB)
Wed 15 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Uniting NSW ACT - An evaluation of the impacts of the C2bMe program delivered at Residential Aged-Care Facilities on residents' wellbeing - June 2022 (pdf, 284.47 KB)
Wed 15 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Uniting NSW ACT - Briefing Paper: C2bMe and C2bMe@Home programs as solutions to combat loneliness in New South Wales (pdf, 441.38 KB)
Wed 15 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Danica Leys, CEO - Country Women's Association of NSW (pdf, 180.89 KB)
Wed 15 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mr Anthony Shannon, Director Early Intervention and Inclusion, NSW, Department of Communication and Justice (pdf, 575.16 KB)
Wed 15 January 2025Additional InformationMs Jennifer Black, Commissioner, Mental Health Commission of NSW (pdf, 838.68 KB)
Wed 15 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mental Health Commission of NSW - received 15 January 2025 (pdf, 4.80 MB)
Fri 10 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Joan Hughes, Chair NSW Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing (MACA) (pdf, 833.98 KB)
Fri 10 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mrs Cassandra Gray, Chief Operating Officer - Mentoring Men (pdf, 672.38 KB)
Thu 09 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice SSI - Evaluation of the Multicultural Peer Network (pdf, 1.01 MB)
Thu 09 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mental Health Carers NSW - Consider the language you use when referring to mental health concerns (pdf, 408.63 KB)
Thu 09 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mental Health Carers NSW - Consider the language you use when referring to self-harm (pdf, 407.41 KB)
Thu 09 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mental Health Carers NSW - Mentorship and Loneliness, February 2024 (pdf, 2.54 MB)
Thu 09 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mental Health Carers NSW - Reducing Stigma and Discrimination Targeted Consultations: Review of existing Australian stigma and discrimination initiatives and evidence - February 2020 (pdf, 812.66 KB)
Thu 09 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mental Health Carers NSW - Reducing stigma and discrimination towards people with mental illness - Targeted consultations: Interim report - July 2020 (pdf, 2.16 MB)
Thu 09 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mental Health Carers NSW - Reducing stigma and discrimination towards people with mental illness: Consultations with people with lived experience - February 2021 (pdf, 942.72 KB)
Thu 09 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mental Health Carers NSW - Reducing stigma and discrimination towards people with mental illness: Consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with lived experience - April 2021 (pdf, 348.62 KB)
Thu 09 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mental Health Carers NSW - Reducing stigma and discrimination towards people with mental illness - Final summary and recommendations - April 2021 (pdf, 205.19 KB)
Thu 09 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mental Health Carers NSW - National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy - Workshop Report - (The National Mental Health Commission) April 2022 (pdf, 486.48 KB)
Thu 09 January 2025Answers to Questions on Notice Mental Health Carers NSW - National Mental Health Commission - Engagement with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities to support the development of the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy - April 2022 (pdf, 494.97 KB)
Thu 09 January 2025Correspondence Transcript correction for 12 December 2024 - Prasheela Karan, Senior Policy Officer and Team Coordinator - Mental Health Carers NSW (MHCN) (pdf, 731.20 KB)
Thu 19 December 2024Answers to Supplementary QuestionsKPMG Australia (pdf, 119.93 KB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Supplementary QuestionsEvidence on the Robustness of the Links between Social Relationships and Mortality - Monash University (pdf, 637.15 KB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Non-clinical community interventions: a systematised review of social prescribing schemes - Monash University (pdf, 1.40 MB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Effectiveness and active ingredients of social prescribing interventions targeting mental health: a systematic review - Monash University (pdf, 1.11 MB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Effectiveness of Social Prescribing Programs in the Primary Health-Care Context: A Systematic Literature Review - Monash University (pdf, 1.11 MB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Social Prescribing through Primary Care: A Systematic Review of the Evidence - Monash University (pdf, 1.21 MB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Effectiveness of social prescribing for chronic disease prevention in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials - Monash University (pdf, 2.85 MB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Nature-Based Social Prescribing in Urban Settings to Improve Social Connectedness and Mental Well-being: a Review - Monash University (pdf, 587.99 KB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Effect of nature prescriptions on cardiometabolic and mental health, and physical activity: a systematic review - Monash University (pdf, 346.50 KB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice The impact of social prescribing services on service users: a systematic review of the evidence - Monash University (pdf, 223.52 KB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Social prescribing as an intervention for people with work-related injuries and psychosocial difficulties in Australia - Monash University (pdf, 209.23 KB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Social Prescribing for Individuals Living with Mental Illness in an Australian Community Setting: A Pilot Study - Monash University (pdf, 543.32 KB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice A controlled evaluation of social prescribing on loneliness for adults in Queensland: 8-week outcomes - Monash University (pdf, 1.09 MB)
Tue 17 December 2024Correspondence Transcript correction for 15 November 2024 - Dr Rosanne Freak-Poli, Senior Researcher, Epidemiologist - School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (pdf, 979.60 KB)
Tue 17 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Dr Stephanie Hodson, CEO, Relationships Australia Canberra and Region - received 17 December 2024 (pdf, 2.89 MB)
Fri 13 December 2024OtherSummary report of online questionnaire (pdf, 393.83 KB)
Thu 12 December 2024Tendered DocumentDr Christina Jarron and Mr Daniel Allars - Top Blokes (pdf, 9.45 MB)
Thu 12 December 2024Additional Information'Better use of existing land and housing can help address the housing crisis' - Professor Lucy Taksa, Director, Multicultural Communities Council NSW; Professor of Management, Deakin Business School; Deputy Director, Deakin Centre for Refugee Employment, Advocacy, Training and Education (CREATE). (pdf, 2.46 MB)
Thu 12 December 2024Additional Information'Older Immigrants' Integration: Organisational Processes and Practices in the Australian Context' - Professor Lucy Taksa, Director, Multicultural Communities Council NSW; Professor of Management, Deakin Business School; Deputy Director, Deakin Centre for Refugee Employment, Advocacy, Training and Education (CREATE). (pdf, 17.25 MB)
Wed 11 December 2024Answers to Supplementary QuestionsMr Greg Jennings - Beyond Blue (pdf, 225.02 KB)
Tue 10 December 2024Answers to Supplementary QuestionsMs Carly Dober, Policy Coordinator & Psychologist, Australian Association of Psychologists (pdf, 59.32 KB)
Tue 10 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Attachment - Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (pdf, 183.76 KB)
Tue 10 December 2024Answers to Questions on Notice Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (pdf, 203.65 KB)
Tue 03 December 2024Correspondence Transcript correction - Professor Michelle Lim - CEO Ending Loneliness Together and Associate Professor, Prevention Research Collaboration, University of Sydney (pdf, 396.91 KB)
Tue 19 November 2024Additional InformationMr Chris Twomey, Senior Industry Fellow, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (pdf, 555.30 KB)
Fri 15 November 2024Tabled DocumentMacquarie University, 'Lifespan, Health and Research Centre Statement - Practical strategies and recommendations' - tabled by Professor Viviana Wuthrich, Director, Lifespan Health & Wellbeing Research Centre, Macquarie University (pdf, 1.62 MB)
Fri 16 August 2024Media ReleaseMedia release - Inquiry started (pdf, 141.61 KB)
Contact us

Merrin Thompson

Role:
Director Committees
Phone:
9230 2895
Email:
socialissues@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Teneale Houghton

Role:
Principal Council Officer
Phone:
9230 2264
Email:
socialissues@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Reeti Pandharipande

Role:
Administration Officer
Phone:
9230 2156
Email:
socialissues@parliament.nsw.gov.au

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