Australia Post and Beyond Blue handing out 4 million prepaid ‘Connection Postcards’

In an effort to ‘brighten lives’ Australia Post has teamed up with Beyond Blue to deliver 4m prepaid postcards to encourage rural Australians to check in with friends and loved ones.

The Roma Post Office team showing their support for the 'Connection Postcards' initiative, which aims to connect rural Australians and combat loneliness. Picture: Supplied.

Australia Post and Beyond Blue have joined forces again to combat mental health challenges in rural Australia by handing out free postcards people can use to check in on friends and loved ones.

In an increasingly digital world, taking the time to write a note to a friend or loved one reminds them you are thinking of them and is often cherished.

Four million prepaid ‘Connection Postcards’ will be distributed to households across the country and will primarily be delivered to regional and rural households this September, giving Australians the opportunity to send a personalised and handwritten postcard for free.

Each postcard features a space for a message and a detachable section with tips on the

importance of nurturing connectedness and mental wellbeing.

Research indicates nearly half of all Australians will face mental health challenges during their lifetime, and one in 10 Australians experience loneliness in any given year.

Australia Post said they are encouraging people to hang on to the tips and keep them in a prominent place in their homes to serve as important mental health reminders.

The Roma Post Office team showing their support for the 'Connection Postcards' initiative, which aims to connect rural Australians and combat loneliness. Picture: Supplied.

This is the third year of the initiative and since the start of the partnership in 2020, 11 million postcards have been delivered to households across the country.

Beyond Blue chief executive officer Georgie Harman said the partnership with Australia Post plays a significant role in sharing important mental health messages with the community.

“Beyond Blue is proud to join with Australia Post for a fourth year, in a shared commitment to foster connectedness across Australia,” Ms Harman said.

“The arrival of the free postcards in letterboxes and Post Offices represents a powerful gesture of support, enabling Australians to reach out, check in, and remind one another of the strength that lies in supporting a friend or family member.

“Almost everyone experiences loneliness at some stage in their lives, especially those living in rural and remote communities.

“The postcards include a list of tips for looking after your mental health and we encourage everyone to keep the tips in a prominent space in your home, like on the fridge, so

they can serve as a helpful reminder of nurturing connectedness every day.”

Out of the four million, 964,286 postcards will be delivered to regional and rural addresses across Queensland from September and are also available at selected post offices around the country.