Aussie social groups building real connections

Australians are using Facebook for much more than cat videos and baby photos. Truth is it’s a powerful tool that is breaking down all number of social barriers.

Football Without Borders

Australians are using Facebook for much more than cat videos and baby photos. Truth is it’s a powerful tool that is breaking down all number of social barriers.

Australians are using Facebook for much more than cat videos and baby photos. Across the country, Facebook Groups are being created to break down cultural barriers, empower women and support those feeling isolated within the community.

We know the capacity and power of Facebook to help maintain our friendships the world over. But more and more, Australian-based groups are establishing their presence on Facebook to build communities and help those in need.

One striking example is not-for-profit organisation Football Without Borders. Nothing brings people together quite like sport, and the 300-strong group of Darwin-based soccer enthusiasts is testament to that. What makes Football Without Borders truly unique is the diverse team of asylum seekers, refugees and new migrants from 25 different countries, many of whom have been forced to leave their homes due to extreme circumstances.

Founder Patrick Sim started the Facebook Group in 2013 to support people who are new to Australia and help build connections. The regular football meet-ups mean they get to meet established members of the community who may be able to offer support with work, language, learning cultural nuances and friendship.

“Facebook has helped us both on and off the pitch to connect these people,” Mr Sim said. “And it’s been able to get that message out about cultural diversity.”

Connecting people with common interests and creating inclusive communities are what social network platforms are all about. In fact, according to Connecting Benefits, a report that outlines the economic and community benefits of using Facebook, 83 per cent of Australian Facebook users are members of at least one Facebook Group.

The same report found that 55 per cent of Australians who join a Facebook Group make new friends, and 87 per cent of those have met other group members in person.

Founded in early 2017, Mama Tribe is an initiative designed for mothers who experience a period of loneliness and isolation after giving birth, something its founders, Nikki McCahon and Haley Finlayson, experienced first-hand.

The Facebook Group’s growth has been remarkably rapid. Within its first year, more than 50 location-based Mama Tribes had been established, with almost 100 volunteers and more than 30,000 members.

“Everyone involved is very open and honest about what it’s like to be a mother,” co-founder Nikki McCahon said. “They’re super passionate about creating supportive communities for mums.”

Facebook Groups are also being used as a powerful communication tool to help prevent social isolation. The Young Stroke Group, created in 2011, is a support-based Facebook Group focused on fostering a sense of community spirit. Specifically for people who’ve experienced a stroke at what it classifies a “very young” age – between 15 and 40 – the group seeks to help each other through a range of challenges, from maintaining independence to returning to work and more.

Of course, not all Facebook Groups are created and used in the same way. Lady Campers, for example, founded earlier this year, has the goal of convincing as many females as possible to get outdoors, give camping a go and see more of what Australia and beyond has to offer. Like Mama Tribe, it has become an important place for many Australian women to connect and has gained a large following in a short space of time. In fact, in less than a year, it has attracted almost 12,000 members.

As the Connecting Benefits report identifies, there are significant positives that online platforms can generate – and these can so often be overlooked. But it is in communication, awareness, friendship and support that the real magic lies in such a powerful social network as Facebook. There’s a wealth of groups out there waiting for like-minded people with shared needs and interests to connect – and they’re only a quick search away.

Facebook is where people and businesses connect. The Connecting Benefits report explores the economic and social benefits of the social platform for businesses and communities.

Originally published as Aussie social groups building real connections