About
Connecting Communities Living Lab
Through the Connecting Communities Living Lab, Council aims to support projects that successfully develop, implement, and evaluate innovative solutions that foster social connection and reduce loneliness, contributing to a more socially cohesive and resilient Casey community.
The Living Lab aligns with City of Casey’s Council Plan 2025–29 and Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021–2025, and reflects the key themes of connection within the Long‑Term Community Vision 2031. It also responds to community concerns about social isolation identified through the Shape Your City 2024 engagement and the Challenges and Opportunities Report, and complements other strategies including the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, Rainbow Action Plan, Living and Ageing Well Action Plan, and the Disability Inclusion Action Plan.
The Connecting Communities Living Lab is focused on two areas:
- Community & Place: How might we design and activate inclusive public spaces and programs that foster connection, improve perceptions of safety, and nurture a sense of belonging?
- Community Empowerment: How might we empower community members and service providers to identify and support people experiencing social isolation?
To address these challenges, organisations operating in the community wellbeing, inclusion, placemaking, and social innovation space were invited to apply for a Connecting Communities Living Lab grant.
Five organisations have been selected to partner with Council for 12 months to trial community‑building solutions in the City of Casey. Read more about the partners and their solutions below.
- Monash University: Designing Intergenerational Commons: Reimagining Community Facilities for Super-Diverse Casey
Researchers will work with community leaders and Council staff to reimagine how Casey’s community facilities can become welcoming places for people of all ages and backgrounds. Through interviews and co‑design workshops, the project will explore what helps people feel comfortable using shared spaces and what stops them from joining in. These ideas will then be used to create simple prototype designs showing how community facilities could be more flexible, friendly, and accessible for everyone.
The project will help people from different cultures and generations share their experiences and shape spaces that support connection and belonging.
- Wellsprings for Women: Parenting and Gender Equality Program for Afghan Mothers
Wellsprings for Women will work with Afghan mothers in Casey to co‑design and deliver an eight‑week parenting program that helps women feel more confident, connected, and supported. The program will bring together up to 25 mothers each week to learn about Australian parenting styles, children’s rights, online safety, school engagement, and ways to manage cultural and generational differences at home.
The project will help women build friendships, share experiences, and learn how to access local services. By increasing confidence and understanding of gender equality, the program aims to reduce social isolation and strengthen families.
- University of Melbourne: Friends in Nature Casey: Cultivating Connection and Belonging through Living Labs
Researchers will work with local community members to run an eight‑week nature program designed to help people feel more connected. The project will bring small groups together in Casey’s parks and reserves to take part in mindful walking, forest therapy, storytelling, and nature observation. These hands‑on activities will help people relax, share experiences, make new friends, and feel safer and more comfortable in local green spaces. The project will also train local organisations to support participants throughout the program.
- The Men’s Table: Healthy Men Making Healthy Communities in Casey
The Men’s Table will establish new groups in City of Casey to support men who may be feeling lonely, stressed, or disconnected. Each group, called a “Table,” brings together around 10–12 men once a month to share a meal and talk openly in a safe and respectful environment. These conversations help men build trust, improve emotional wellbeing, and feel more connected to others.
The project will run outreach activities, information sessions, and welcome events to help new members join. Every Table is guided by simple principles of confidentiality and support, with ongoing guidance from trained facilitators. Research shows that when men have a place to talk and be heard, it strengthens their relationships at home and improves community safety and wellbeing.
By creating new Tables in Casey, the project will give more men a chance to build friendships, support one another, and contribute to healthier, more connected neighbourhoods across the City.
- Monash University: YourWalk: A community tool for mapping lighting, accessibility, and climate resilient mobility
Researchers will work with local residents and Council staff to co‑design a new digital tool that helps people find safer, easier, and more comfortable walking routes across Casey. The project will use community workshops and mapping to understand what makes walking hard for many people, including poor lighting, uneven footpaths, and hot areas with little shade. These insights will then be used to create a simple app that shows walking routes that feel safer and more accessible, especially for women, older adults, people with disabilities, and carers with prams.
The project will also build a dashboard for Council so it will be possible to see where improvements are most needed and plan upgrades that make walking more enjoyable for everyone.